VertiGreens Investigating the Effects of Iron Biofortification of Microgreens on Iron Status in Women

NCT06972927 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 821
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators present a diet intervention study, to be conducted as a within-subject design, to assess the effect of the provision of iron biofortified microgreens on iron intake and status in women of reproductive age and postmenopausal women. This will be investigated by providing smoothie kits for 28 days containing these microgreens and determining the impact on iron biomarkers. The investigators will also assess habitual diet, BMI, physical activity and gastrointestinal symptoms. This study will be a proof-of-concept exploratory study to explore diet based biofortification through vertical farming systems.

Conditions

Iron Biomarkers/Status

Keywords

vertical farming; iron biomarkers; iron status; biofortification; microgreens

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Haemoglobin status change from baseline

  Iron status changes in haemoglobin

  Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28

• Serum iron status change from baseline

  Iron status changes in serum iron

  Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28

• Ferritin status change from baseline

  Iron status changes in ferritin

  Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28

• CRP change from baseline

  Changes in CRP

  Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28

• Dietary iron intake changes compared to habitual diet

  Dietary iron intake changes in iron intake compared to habitual diet measured though food diaries

  every study day (28 days)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Serum Vitamin B12 status change from baseline

  Measured on study day 1 and on study day 28

• Adherence to consumption of microgreens/smoothie

  every study day (28 days)

Study Arms (1)

Vertigreens

EXPERIMENTAL

Phase 1: Habitual diet (1 week) Phase 2: Vertigreens diet: One smoothie a day containing biofortified microgreens (4 weeks)

Other: Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens

Interventions

Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens OTHER

30g of iron biofortified microgreens consumed within a smoothie for 28 days

Vertigreens

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy females
• of reproductive age (18-49)
• postmenopausal (not had their period for an entire year)

You may not qualify if:

• Supplementing iron or vitamin B12
• Smoking or vaping
• Taking anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) except for Aspirin 75mg
• Anyone who is planning to be pregnant, is pregnant or breastfeeding
• Anyone with iron or vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Anyone with history of anaemia in the past 3 months that required treatment
• Anyone who has Hb \<120 g/L (12 g/dL) at screening
• Anyone with food allergies to banana, mango, pineapple, coconut
• Anyone with coeliac disease
• Anyone suffering from a psychiatric disorder or any type of substance abuse
• Anyone with Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes
• Anyone suffering from unregulated thyroid disease
• Anyone with gastrointestinal conditions or bariatric surgery
• Anyone with haematological conditions including Thrombocytopaenia and Sickle cell anaemia
• Anyone with unsuitable veins for blood sampling

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Aberdeen: lead

Study Sites (1)

Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen

Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Alexandra Johnstone, Prof

  University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Alexandra Johnstone, Prof

CONTACT

01224 438614; alex.johnstone@abdn.ac.uk

Annika Bucky

CONTACT

+447359362808; a.bucky.22@abdn.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2025
• First Posted: May 15, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 4, 2026
• Study Completion: May 4, 2026
• Last Updated: April 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)