Iron AbsorptionIRON BOOSTNCT07517562
The Effects of Acute Erythropoietin on Hepcidin and Dietary Iron Absorption Following Military-relevant Exercise in Energy Deficit: Pilot Study
A study testing Exercise test in people with Iron Absorption, run by Pennington Biomedical Research Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Military personnel frequently experience declines in iron status during training and when in the field, which may compromise performance. The overall purpose of this study is to determine why the decline in iron status occurs and potential countermeasures. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Iron Absorption
- What is being tested?
- Exercise test
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 6 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2025to 1 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Males and premenopausal females ages 18-45 years
- Physically active
Who cannot join
- Low iron stores (ferritin <15 mg/mL)
- Anemia (females: hemoglobin < 12 g/dL, males: hemoglobin < 13 g/dL)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808
About this study
Military personnel frequently experience declines in iron status during training and when in the field, which may compromise performance. The overall purpose of this study is to determine why the decline in iron status occurs and potential countermeasures. Participants will be given an acute dose of erythropoietin (EPO) or placebo and will complete a 90-minute load carriage exercise test. Prior to the main trial, this pilot study will determine the optimal approach to assess iron absorption following exercise (red blood cell incorporation or plasma isotope appearance), the percentage of iron incorporated into red blood cells with EPO compared to placebo, and the timing of the intervention.
- Conditions
- Iron Absorption
- Being tested
- Exercise test
- Keywords
- Iron, Iron status, Iron deficiency, Iron deficiency anemia, Military, Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Iron Deficiencies, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exercise testOther
90-minute load carriage exercise test on a treadmill
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EPO | Experimental | Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) Receives: Other: Exercise test |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Saline placebo Receives: Other: Exercise test |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Fractional iron absorption
Iron absorption as measured by iron incorporation into red blood cells
Measured: 14 days post-exercise
Plasma isotope appearance
Plasma iron isotope appearance
Measured: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 360 minutes post-exercise
Red blood cell iron incorporation
The calculation to determine dietary iron absorption accounts for the fact that not all absorbed iron is incorporated into red blood cells. This can either be an assumed constant of 80% or experimentally determined by administering a second isotope intravenously. Pilot testing will be used to assess whether the investigators can use 80% or whether iron uptake by red blood cells is greater after EPO compared to placebo.
Measured: 50 minutes infusion of a stable iron isotope following exercise
Timing of intervention
Blood will be collected over time to ensure blood biomarkers return to baseline following EPO.
Measured: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days following EPO
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2025
- Primary completion31 Dec 2025
- Study completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Iron AbsorptionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07517562
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-082
- Acronym
- IRON BOOST
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No