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Iron Supplementation and Gastrointestinal HealthIN-FORMNCT07078630

Modulation of hepcidIN With Co-supplementation of Iron and FORMulated Curcumin in Recreational Athletes

A study testing HydroCurc® and Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron in people with Iron Supplementation and Gastrointestinal Health and Iron Deficiency, run by University of Westminster at 1 site in United Kingdom.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are common among endurance athletes partly due to a repeated post-exercise elevation of hepcidin, a hormone limiting iron entry through the intestine. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
HydroCurc® and Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
10 participants
Where
1 siteUnited Kingdom
Study dates
5 Oct 2023to 24 Jan 2024
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 to 40 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adult (18-40 years) endurance male \& female runners.
  • All participants will be accustomed to exercising at least 150 minutes per week, meeting the minimum NHS exercise recommendation.
  • Participants will be fit enough to run for 60 minutes on a treadmill at 70% of their V̇O2max. To that end, participants will undergo a fitness test in the screening visit.

Who cannot join

  • <18 years or >40 years
  • Those with deficient/excess/abnormal iron levels according to UK guidelines \&/or haemochromatosis
  • Any allergies/health issues related to items being ingested.
  • Any illnesses or those on medication
  • Those on iron or curcumin supplements
  • Any pregnant or lactating women
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Any women who are trying to conceive
  • Any gastrointestinal disorders
  • Any eating disorders
  • Any abnormal blood pressure levels
  • Consumption of >14 units of alcohol/week
  • Devices such as pacemakers
  • Smokers
  • Renal disorders
  • Dieters
  • These criteria will be self-reported.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United Kingdom1 site
  • University of Westminster London

    London, Greater London, W1W6UW

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Co-supplementation of Ferrous Iron With Formulated Curcumin Reduces Hepcidin Response in Trained Individuals: a Cross-over, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Human Intervention Study

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are common among endurance athletes partly due to a repeated post-exercise elevation of hepcidin, a hormone limiting iron entry through the intestine. Oral iron supplementation also causes stimulation of hepcidin that adds on to the exercise-intrinsic stimulation of this hormone further reducing iron absorption. Both oral ferrous iron therapy and performance running are known to cause undesired gastrointestinal symptoms. Curcumin, a polyphenol from turmeric, has been previously shown to reduce hepcidin levels in resting individuals and to protect the gastrointestinal (GI) function but its effect on active individuals supplementing with iron remains unclarified.

The objective of this research study is to learn about the effects of a formulated curcumin (HydroCurc®) on intestinal health and regulation mechanisms of body iron levels in recreationally active athletes supplementing with iron.

Read more

The main questions to answer are:

Does HydroCurc® influence iron regulatory mechanisms in resting conditions? Does HydroCurc® influence iron regulatory mechanisms in post-exercise conditions? Does HydroCurc® alleviate iron supplementation- and exercise-related gastrointestinal adverse events

Researchers will compare HydroCurc® to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if there are any significant changes.

Participants will:

  • Perform a fitness test
  • Take iron and HydroCurc for seven days
  • Complete questionnaires on their gastrointestinal health
  • Complete anthropometric testing
  • Undergo blood sampling
Read the detailed description

Intervention study with two treatment groups in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design.

Healthy recreationally active athletes will perform a VO2 max test to determine their aerobic capacity. A blood sample will be taken prior to the test as baseline measurement. Following treatment with iron plus either HydroCurc or a matched placebo for a week, participants will run on a treadmill for one hour at 70% of their maximal capacity. Blood samples will be collected before, immediately after, one hour post- and three hours post-exercise. Gastrointestinal symptoms will be assessed via validated questionnaires during the supplementation period and the experimental visits. All participants will observe a minimum of a two-week washout period. All participants will attend visits fasting for a minimum of four hours.

Being tested
Placebo, HydroCurc®, Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron
Keywords
Iron, Ferrous sulphate, Curcumin, IFABP, Ferritin, Interleukin-6, Hepcidin, Iron deficiency, Anaemia, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Supplement, Gastrointestinal symptoms, Nutraceutical
Medical subject headings
Iron Deficiencies, Anemia, Inflammation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    Participants instructed to intake the placebo capsule along with the ferrous sulphate tablet, separated from food, tea or coffee, at the same time of the day.

  • HydroCurc®Dietary supplement

    Participants instructed to intake the HydroCurc® capsule along with the ferrous sulphate tablet, separated from food, tea or coffee, at the same time of the day.

  • Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental ironDietary supplement

    Participants instructed to intake the ferrous sulphate tablet along with the HydroCurc® or the placebo together, preferably and separated from food, tea or coffee, at the same time of the day.

Study groups in NCT07078630
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Ferrous iron + placeboPlacebo comparator* Dried ferrous sulphate tablet, 200mg providing 65 mg of elemental iron (Remedy Healthcare, UK). * Placebo capsule containing maltodextrin and a food grade dye (yellow 5 or E102) (Fast Colours LLP, Huddersfield, UK)
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron
Ferrous iron + HydroCurcActive comparator* Dried ferrous sulphate, 200mg tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron (Remedy Healthcare, UK). * HydroCurc (Gencor Pacific Limited, Lantau Island, Hong Kong), 500 mg capsule containing not less than 90% 115 curcuminoids (85% curcumin), formulated in 10% LipiSperse® (Pharmako Biotechnologies Pty Ltd, 116 Sydney, Australia), a delivery system comprising a proprietary mixture of surfactants, polar lipids 117 and solvents.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: HydroCurc®; Dietary Supplement: Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Concentration of iron absorption regulatory hormone in athletes supplementing with ferrous iron in resting conditions

    Hepcidin, ng/mL

    Measured: Hepcidin measured 1 day post supplementation

  2. Exercise-associated hepcidin concentration in athletes supplementing with ferrous iron

    Hepcidin, ng/mL

    Measured: Hepcidin measured 180 minutes post-exercise

  3. Ferrous iron-associated iron status in athletes

    Ferritin, ng/mL

    Measured: Ferritin measured 1 day post supplementation

  4. Change of exercise-associated inflammation in ferrous iron supplemented athletes

    Interleukin-6, pg/mL

    Measured: Interleukin-6 measured 0- and 60-minutes post-exercise

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Exercise-associated intestinal damage in ferrous iron supplemented athletes

    Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (IFABP), pg/mL

    Measured: IFABP measured 0- and 60-minutes post-exercise

  2. Incidence and frequency of ferrous iron associated-gastrointestinal symptoms

    Subjective analysis via Oral Iron Supplement Questionnaire

    Measured: Gastrointestinal symptoms analysed daily throughout the supplementation period (seven continuous days)

  3. Number of participants supplementing with ferrous iron and reporting exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms

    Subjective analysis via gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire

    Measured: Gastrointestinal symptoms measured 30 minutes after the commencement of the exercise, 0-, 60- and 180- minutes post-exercise.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Jul 2025
  2. Study start5 Oct 2023
  3. Primary completion24 Jan 2024
  4. Study completion24 Jan 2024

Resources

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
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
Double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover.
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
10 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07078630
Sponsor's protocol ID
ETH2223-1363
Acronym
IN-FORM
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
11 Jul 2025
Last updated
21 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Tolkien Z, Stecher L, Mander AP, Pereira DI, Powell JJ. Ferrous sulfate supplementation causes significant gastrointestinal side-effects in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 20;10(2):e0117383. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117383. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 25700159
  • Szymanski MC, Gillum TL, Gould LM, Morin DS, Kuennen MR. Short-term dietary curcumin supplementation reduces gastrointestinal barrier damage and physiological strain responses during exertional heat stress. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2018 Feb 1;124(2):330-340. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00515.2017. Epub 2017 Sep 21.

    PubMed 28935827
  • Peters HP, Bos M, Seebregts L, Akkermans LM, van Berge Henegouwen GP, Bol E, Mosterd WL, de Vries WR. Gastrointestinal symptoms in long-distance runners, cyclists, and triathletes: prevalence, medication, and etiology. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Jun;94(6):1570-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.01147.x.

    PubMed 10364027
  • Ishibashi A, Maeda N, Kamei A, Goto K. Iron Supplementation during Three Consecutive Days of Endurance Training Augmented Hepcidin Levels. Nutrients. 2017 Jul 30;9(8):820. doi: 10.3390/nu9080820.

    PubMed 28758951
  • Laine F, Laviolle B, Bardou-Jacquet E, Fatih N, Jezequel C, Collet N, Ropert M, Morcet J, Hamon C, Reymann JM, Loreal O. Curcuma decreases serum hepcidin levels in healthy volunteers: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2017 Oct;31(5):567-573. doi: 10.1111/fcp.12288. Epub 2017 May 7.

    PubMed 28370178
  • Larsuphrom P, Latunde-Dada GO. Association of Serum Hepcidin Levels with Aerobic and Resistance Exercise: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2021 Jan 27;13(2):393. doi: 10.3390/nu13020393.

    PubMed 33513924
  • Keller K, Friedrich O, Treiber J, Quermann A, Friedmann-Bette B. Iron deficiency in athletes: Prevalence and impact on VO2 peak. Nutrition. 2024 Oct;126:112516. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2024.112516. Epub 2024 Jun 10.

    PubMed 39002373

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing HydroCurc® and Ferrous sulphate 200mg oral tablet providing 65 mg of elemental iron in people with Iron Supplementation and Gastrointestinal Health and Iron Deficiency, run by University of Westminster 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 16 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 21 Aug 2025. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Concentration of iron absorption regulatory hormone in athletes supplementing with ferrous iron in resting conditions (time frame: Hepcidin measured 1 day post supplementation). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07078630, which also lists 7 linked publications.

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 21 Aug 2025.

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