NCT06798584

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate how iron status and heavy bleeding during the menopausal transition affect women's cognitive function and quality of life. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • What is the association between iron status, cognitive function, mood, quality of family relationships, and quality of life in perimenopausal women?
  • How does iron repletion, via supplementation, affect cognitive function, mood, quality of family relationships, and quality of life in perimenopausal women? The investigators will compare the effect of iron supplements to a placebo (gelatin capsule) to see if iron supplements could improve iron status, cognitive function, mood, quality of family relationships, and quality of life of iron-deficient and/or anemic women undergoing the menopausal transition. Each participant will:
  • Make 2 visits (about 2 hours each - baseline and endline) to the Clinical Research Center at Purdue
  • Make a very brief visit at midpoint (about 10 minutes) for a checkup
  • Take a daily study supplement or placebo for 4 months

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
240

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2025

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 15, 2024

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 29, 2025

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2025

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2025

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

February 13, 2025

Status Verified

February 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

9 months

First QC Date

November 15, 2024

Last Update Submit

February 12, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

IronPerimenopauseIron Deficiency AnemiaIron DeficiencyCognitive FunctionQuality of LifeMoodQuality of Family RelationshipsMenopausePerimenopausal MenorrhagiaAbnormal Uterine BleedingMenopause TransitionWomen's Health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (19)

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure plasma iron (mcg/dL).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (mcg/dL).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure transferrin saturation (TSAT) (%).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure serum ferritin (Ft) (μg/L).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure serum transferrin receptor (TfR) (mg/L).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure CBC parameters (including hemoglobin (Hb) (g/dL), hematocrit (Hct) (%), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (fL), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) (fL)), which are measured in whole blood.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will measure serum hepcidin (ng/mL).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Iron Status Assessment

    The investigators will calculate body Fe (mg/kg) using Cook's formula.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Inflammation Assessment

    The investigators will measure α-1-acid glycoprotein (g/L) as an indicator of inflammation. In cases where inflammation is indicated, ferritin (μg/L) and TfR (mg/L) levels will not be used to assess iron status or concentrations will be adjusted using either the Thurnham or BRINDA methods.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Inflammation Assessment

    The investigators will measure C-reactive protein (mg/L) as an indicator of inflammation. In cases where inflammation is indicated, ferritin (μg/L) and TfR (mg/L) levels will not be used to assess iron status or concentrations will be adjusted using either the Thurnham or BRINDA methods.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Cognitive Function Assessment

    To assess multiple domains of executive function, the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) platform will be utilized to evaluate cognitive domains that were shown to be affected by iron status in previous studies. Berg Card Sorting Test (# of categories completed and # of perseverative errors) will be performed through the PEBL to assess executive function in participants in a lighting and temperature-controlled testing environment.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Cognitive Function Assessment

    To assess multiple domains of executive function, the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) platform will be utilized to evaluate cognitive domains that were shown to be affected by iron status in previous studies. Attention Network Task (% correct for accuracy and reaction time, alerting, orienting, and conflict measurements in milliseconds) will be performed through the PEBL to assess alerting, orienting, and conflict in participants in a lighting and temperature-controlled testing environment.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Cognitive Function Assessment

    To assess multiple domains of executive function, the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) platform will be utilized to evaluate cognitive domains that were shown to be affected by iron status in previous studies. Go Task: The Go/No-Go (% correct for accuracy and reaction time in milliseconds) will be performed through the PEBL to assess the ability to inhibit impulsivity while responding to go cues in participants in a lighting and temperature-controlled testing environment.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Cognitive Function Assessment

    To assess multiple domains of executive function, the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) platform will be utilized to evaluate cognitive domains that were shown to be affected by iron status in previous studies. Tower of London Task (# of excess moves and planning and solution time in milliseconds) will be performed through the PEBL to assess the efficiency in planning in participants in a lighting and temperature-controlled testing environment.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Cognitive Function Assessment

    To assess multiple domains of executive function, the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) platform will be utilized to evaluate cognitive domains that were shown to be affected by iron status in previous studies. Sternberg Memory Search Task (% correct for accuracy, reaction time in milliseconds, and # of throughput) will be performed through the PEBL to assess working memory in participants in a lighting and temperature-controlled testing environment.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Quality of Life

    Quality of life will be assessed using the self-administered MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), with a score ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better health.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Quality of Life

    Quality of life will be assessed using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), with a score ranging from 0 to 6, where higher scores indicate worse quality of life.

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Assessment of Mood

    Mood will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (with a score ranging from 0 to 63, where higher scores indicate worse depressive symptoms).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

  • Assessment of Family Relationships

    Family relationships will be assessed using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV Short Form (FACES-IV-SF) (with a score ranging from 0-1, where scores less than one represents families with problematic functioning).

    From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 months

Study Arms (6)

Iron Sufficient - Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Women classified as iron sufficient given a 4-month supply of gelatin capsules

Dietary Supplement: 21st Century Gelatin Capsules

Iron Sufficient - Iron Supplements

EXPERIMENTAL

Women classified as iron sufficient given a 4-month supply of iron supplements

Dietary Supplement: FeoSol Original Iron Supplement Tablets

Iron Deficient - Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Women classified as iron deficient given a 4-month supply of gelatin capsules

Dietary Supplement: 21st Century Gelatin Capsules

Iron Deficient - Iron Supplements

EXPERIMENTAL

Women classified as iron deficient given a 4-month supply of iron supplements

Dietary Supplement: FeoSol Original Iron Supplement Tablets

Iron Deficient (Anemic) - Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Women classified as anemic given a 4-month supply of gelatin capsules

Dietary Supplement: 21st Century Gelatin Capsules

Iron Deficient (Anemic) - Iron Supplements

EXPERIMENTAL

Women classified as anemic given a 4-month supply of iron supplements

Dietary Supplement: FeoSol Original Iron Supplement Tablets

Interventions

325 mg of ferrous sulfate containing 65 mg of elemental iron

Iron Deficient (Anemic) - Iron SupplementsIron Deficient - Iron SupplementsIron Sufficient - Iron Supplements

600 mg

Iron Deficient (Anemic) - PlaceboIron Deficient - PlaceboIron Sufficient - Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale(Gender-based eligibility)
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Undergoing natural perimenopause
  • English-speaking
  • In general good health as documented by each woman's personal report that the participant is without any past history of a chronic health condition

You may not qualify if:

  • Taking psychoactive drugs
  • A history of hematological disorders

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Stone Hall

West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, United States

Location

Related Publications (41)

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Iron DeficienciesAnemia, Iron-DeficiencyMetrorrhagia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Iron Metabolism DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesAnemia, HypochromicAnemiaHematologic DiseasesHemic and Lymphatic DiseasesUterine HemorrhageUterine DiseasesGenital Diseases, FemaleFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesGenital DiseasesHemorrhagePathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Laura E Murray-Kolb, PhD

    Purdue University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Laura E Murray-Kolb, PhD

CONTACT

Mun S Choi, MS

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Participants will be classified as iron sufficient, iron deficient, or iron deficient anemic according to the following parameters. To be classified as iron deficient anemic (IDA): Hb between 100 and 119 g/L, and at least 2 of the following iron deficiency parameters: mean corpuscular volume (MCV) \< 80 fL, transferrin saturation (TSAT) \<15%, serum ferritin (Ft) \<15 ug/L, serum transferrin receptor \>8.3 mg/L, serum hepcidin \<8 ng/mL; to be classified as iron deficient without anemia (ID): at least 2 of the abnormal values listed above with a Hb\>=120 g/L; to be classified as iron sufficient (IS): Hb \>=120 g/L, MCV \>80 fL, TSAT \>15%, Ft \>20 ug/L, TfR \< 6 mg/L, and hepcidin \>8 ng/mL. Any participant with a Hb \<100 g/L will be excluded from the study as being too anemic and be referred to a physician for immediate treatment of the anemia. Any participant with a Ft\>200 ug/L will be excluded from the study and advised to follow up with a physician.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor & Department Head

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 15, 2024

First Posted

January 29, 2025

Study Start

March 1, 2025

Primary Completion

December 1, 2025

Study Completion

December 1, 2025

Last Updated

February 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Locations