Iron Biomarkers/StatusNCT06972927
VertiGreens Investigating the Effects of Iron Biofortification of Microgreens on Iron Status in Women
A study testing Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens in people with Iron Biomarkers/Status, run by University of Aberdeen at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
The investigators present a pilot diet intervention study, to be conducted as a within-subject design, to assess the feasibility of iron biofortified microgreens on iron intake and status in women of reproductive age and postmenopausal women. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Iron Biomarkers/Status
- What is being tested?
- Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 18 Jul 2025to 4 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 years and older
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy females
- 15 of reproductive age (18-49)
- 15 postmenopausal (not had their period for an entire year)
Who cannot join
- Medication exclusion criteria:
- Supplementing iron or vitamin B12
- Smoking or vaping
- Taking anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) except for Aspirin 75mg
- Medical exclusion criteria:
- Anyone who is planning to be pregnant, is pregnant or breastfeeding
Show all 20Show fewer
- 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
- Other exclusion criteria:
- Anyone with unsuitable veins for blood sampling
- Anyone who donated blood in the last 16 weeks
- Anyone who is unable to fluently speak, read and understand English
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD
About this study
The investigators present a pilot diet intervention study, to be conducted as a within-subject design, to assess the feasibility 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.
Read the detailed description
In this study microgreens that were grown using agronomic iron biofortification will be supplied to women to add to their diet to establish the potential nutritional impact of iron biofortified microgreens on overall iron intake and iron status. Furthermore, it will assess the adherence to the provided consumption recommendations of the biofortified crops.
- Conditions
- Iron Biomarkers/Status
- Being tested
- Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens
- Keywords
- vertical farming, iron biomarkers, iron status, biofortification, microgreens
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreensOther
30g of iron biofortified microgreens consumed within a smoothie for 28 days
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Vertigreens | Experimental | Phase 1: Habitual diet (1 week) Phase 2: Vertigreens diet: One smoothie a day containing biofortified microgreens (4 weeks) Receives: Other: Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Haemoglobin status change from baseline
Iron status changes in haemoglobin
Measured: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
Serum iron status change from baseline
Iron status changes in serum iron
Measured: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
Ferritin status change from baseline
Iron status changes in ferritin
Measured: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
CRP change from baseline
Changes in CRP
Measured: 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
Measured: every study day (28 days)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Serum Vitamin B12 status change from baseline
Vitamin B12 status changes
Measured: Measured on study day 1 and on study day 28
Adherence to consumption of microgreens/smoothie
intake measured through food diaries
Measured: every study day (28 days)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 May 2025
- Study start18 Jul 2025
- Primary completion4 May 2026
- Study completion4 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Iron Biomarkers/StatusStudies 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Aberdeen
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Alexandra Johnstone, Prof, Principal investigator, University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06972927
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 821
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 6 May 2025
- Last updated
- 20 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- VertiGreens Investigating the Effects of Iron Biofortification of Microgreens on Iron Status in Women
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06972927
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 821
- Conditions
- Iron Biomarkers/Status
- Keywords
- vertical farming, iron biomarkers, iron status, biofortification, microgreens
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of AberdeenUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 May 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The investigators present a pilot diet intervention study, to be conducted as a within-subject design, to assess the feasibility 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.
Detailed description
In this study microgreens that were grown using agronomic iron biofortification will be supplied to women to add to their diet to establish the potential nutritional impact of iron biofortified microgreens on overall iron intake and iron status. Furthermore, it will assess the adherence to the provided consumption recommendations of the biofortified crops.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Vertigreens | Experimental | Other: Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreensPhase 1: Habitual diet (1 week) Phase 2: Vertigreens diet: One smoothie a day containing biofortified microgreens (4 weeks) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Healthy females
- 15 of reproductive age (18-49)
- 15 postmenopausal (not had their period for an entire year)
Key exclusion criteria (20 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens30g of iron biofortified microgreens consumed within a smoothie for 28 days | Other | Vertigreens |
Primary outcome
Haemoglobin status change from baseline
Time frame: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
Iron status changes in haemoglobin
Serum iron status change from baseline
Time frame: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
Iron status changes in serum iron
Ferritin status change from baseline
Time frame: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
Iron status changes in ferritin
CRP change from baseline
Time frame: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28
Changes in CRP
Dietary iron intake changes compared to habitual diet
Time frame: every study day (28 days)
Dietary iron intake changes in iron intake compared to habitual diet measured though food diaries
2 secondary outcomes
Serum Vitamin B12 status change from baseline
Time frame: Measured on study day 1 and on study day 28
Adherence to consumption of microgreens/smoothie
Time frame: every study day (28 days)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Iron Biomarkers/Status
RecruitingPhase 2
Effects of Adjunct Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patient: an Early Bactericidal Activity and Inflammatory Trial
Tuberculosis, Inflammation Biomarkers
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Alexandra Johnstone, Prof principal investigator
University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens in people with Iron Biomarkers/Status, run by University of Aberdeen at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 20 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Haemoglobin status change from baseline (time frame: Measured at study day 1 and on study day 28). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Aug 2026.