Which iron pill works best? small study tests natural vs. standard supplements
NCT ID NCT07563686
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study looked at how well healthy pre-menopausal women with low iron stores absorb iron from two different supplements: Spatone (a natural iron-rich water) and ferrous sulphate (a standard iron pill). Fourteen women took three different doses (5, 10, and 15 mg) of each supplement in a random order. Researchers measured iron absorption by tracking a special stable isotope in the blood. The goal was to see which supplement and dose provides the best iron uptake, which could help guide dietary recommendations for iron deficiency.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Spatone (natural iron-rich water) and ferrous sulphate (standard iron supplement)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could help identify which iron supplement is better absorbed, potentially improving dietary advice for women with low iron.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 14 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It measures absorption in a lab setting, not real-world effectiveness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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14 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Finished
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Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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19 to 49 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy pre-menopausal women * Aged 19-49 years * With low iron stores (below 30 μg/L serum ferritin; normal range 30-100 μg/L). Exclusion Criteria: * Allergy to iron supplements * BMI above 25 * Pregnant * Post-menopausal women * History of alcohol or substance abuse * Reported history of CVD, diabetes, cancer, kidney, liver or intestinal disease, gastrointestinal disorder * Use of drugs likely to alter gastrointestinal function * Donated blood recently (within the last 3 months prior to screening visit)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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King's College London
London, Greater London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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