RECRUITING

Choline and Iron Deficiency

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

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.

Official Title

Supplemental Choline to Prevent and Treat Learning and Memory Deficits of Early Iron Deficiency: the SupCHO Study

Quick Facts

Study Start:2025-08-11
Study Completion:2027-09-21
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT06527391

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:5 Months to 7 Months
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:CHILD
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Age 6 months +/- 28 days
  2. * Hb \< 11.0 g/dL
  3. * ZPP \> = 80
  4. * T\<37.5°C
  5. * Malaria-negative based on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
  6. * Mother is HIV-negative.
  1. * Developmental disorder
  2. * Severe malnutrition (severe wasting or bipedal edema)
  3. * Known sickle cell disease
  4. * Neurologic disorder, brain injury, or other condition affecting brain development
  5. * Not currently breastfeeding
  6. * Birthweight \< 2000 g

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Sarah Cusick
CONTACT
612-723-1694
scusick@umn.edu

Principal Investigator

Sarah Cusick
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Minnesota

Study Locations (Sites)

University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 555455
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

  • Sarah Cusick, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Minnesota

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2025-08-11
Study Completion Date2027-09-21

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2025-08-11
Study Completion Date2027-09-21

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

  • iron deficiency
  • choline
  • anemia

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Pediatric Iron Deficiency
  • Anemia