Choline and Iron Deficiency

NCT ID: NCT06527391

Last Updated: 2025-08-27

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Total Enrollment

300 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-08-11

Study Completion Date

2027-09-21

Brief Summary

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BACKGROUND:

Iron deficiency limits the neurodevelopmental potential of more than 200 million children each year. Iron therapy is typically started when iron deficiency anemia is first diagnosed after screening for anemia or detection of clinical symptoms of iron deficiency anemia at 12 months of age. But iron started at this time does not fully correct earlier iron-deficiency-mediated brain dysfunction, underscoring the need for low-cost, easily implementable adjunct therapies to iron to treat or prevent this dysfunction in high-risk populations.

GAP Supplementation with the nutrient choline lessens damage to the hippocampus from early-life iron deficiency in pre-clinical models and improves hippocampus-mediated memory in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Choline has not been tested in children with iron deficiency anemia, despite strong pre-clinical and clinical evidence supporting a benefit to brain development.

HYPOTHESIS:

Infants with iron deficiency anemia who receive iron and nine months of daily choline supplements will have better scores on specific neurobehavioral tests of recognition memory than infants who receive iron and placebo.

METHODS:

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial will randomize 300 6-month-old infants with iron deficiency anemia at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, to iron plus choline or iron plus placebo to test the effect of choline on hippocampus-specific and global neurobehavioral outcomes after nine months.

RESULTS: Pending

IMPACT:

If our hypothesis is correct, choline could be added immediately to standard-of-care treatment for iron deficiency anemia. This intervention could safely mitigate the brain dysfunction of early-life iron deficiency that is often undiagnosed until the hippocampal critical window is closing. This simple, low-cost nutrient could thus have life-long benefit for both individuals and the economic and social prosperity of entire regions.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Pediatric Iron Deficiency Anemia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 9 months of daily choline supplementation of 300 6-month-old Ugandan infants with iron deficiency anemia
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
Manufacturer of choline and placebo tablets will randomize the regimens and hold the randomization key

Study Groups

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study group

participants assigned to receive study drug

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

choline bitartrate

Intervention Type DRUG

Daily supplementation for 9 months with 200 mg choline bitartrate

control group

participants assigned to receive placebo drug

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

placebo drug

Intervention Type OTHER

Daily supplementation for 9 months with identical placebo

Interventions

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choline bitartrate

Daily supplementation for 9 months with 200 mg choline bitartrate

Intervention Type DRUG

placebo drug

Daily supplementation for 9 months with identical placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 6 months +/- 28 days
* Hb \< 11.0 g/dL
* ZPP \> = 80
* T\<37.5°C
* Malaria-negative based on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
* Mother is HIV-negative.

Exclusion Criteria

* Developmental disorder
* Severe malnutrition (severe wasting or bipedal edema)
* Known sickle cell disease
* Neurologic disorder, brain injury, or other condition affecting brain development
* Not currently breastfeeding
* Birthweight \< 2000 g
Minimum Eligible Age

5 Months

Maximum Eligible Age

7 Months

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Minnesota

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Sarah Cusick

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Minnesota

Locations

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University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Sarah Cusick

Role: CONTACT

612-723-1694

Facility Contacts

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Sarah Cusick

Role: primary

612-723-1694

Other Identifiers

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33410

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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