Iron Bioavailability From Biofortified Orange-fleshed Sweet Potato

To combat iron deficiency in Low and Middle-Income Countries, sustainable food-based solutions have to be implemented to serve populations, not only individuals. One solution is the introduction of iron biofortified staple crops on market level. Before market level introduction, the bioavailability of iron in the new biofortified Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) breed needs to be assessed. In this study the investigator compares the fractional and total iron absorption after extrinsic stable isotope labelling of the new biofortified high iron OFSP variety and a normal market level OFSP variety. The study is conducted in Malawian women of reproductive age with marginal iron status.

The 25 women enrolled will consume test meals consisting of 400g steamed and mashed high iron sweet potatoes labelled with Fe-58 daily for a period of 10 days and will then switch to the test meals consisting of 400g steamed and mashed control sweet potatoes labelled with Fe-57 for a period of 10 days. The order of test meal type is random. A baseline blood sample will be taken on the first meal feeding day prior to consumption of any test meals, on study day 26 (14 days after completion of the first test meal period) and on Day 40 (14 days after completion of the second test meal period). Erythrocyte incorporation of the stable isotope labels will be measured in these blood samples using an ICPMS and will be used to calculate fractional and total iron absorption from the two different type of test meals.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Woman aged 18-35 years old
2. low/marginal iron status respectively evidenced by one of the following criteria: PF ≤ 25 µg/L
3. Normal BMI for age (18.5-25.0 kg/m2)
4. Weight less than 65 kg. A maximum weight limitation is needed since the stable isotope portions are based on body weight. We want to give equal amounts of stable isotopes to each study participant and therefore need to standardize body weight.
5. Living in a study radius of 30 km from the meal distribution/ health centre side
6. Willing and able to commute to the set meal distribution/ health centre side
7. Able to understand and to sign\* written concept prior to trial entry
8. Informed consent signed \* Signing of informed consent by either autograph or finger print.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe anaemia Hb \<80 g/l
2. High infection rate based on CRP \> 5 mg/L
3. Any known chronic diseases
4. Relevant digestive (intestinal, gastric, hepatic or pancreatic), renal, metabolic disease, as determined by the screening visit and by self-report from the subjects.
5. Diagnosed food allergy.
6. Pregnancy (urine test during screening
7. Lactation.
8. History of cancer within the past year, from self-report by the woman or as obtained from her health passport
9. Any medication or supplement which may impact erythrocytes, Hb or haematocrit (to the opinion of the investigator).
10. Iron supplementation therapy or perfusion in the last three months
11. Significant blood losses over the past 6 months (i.e. trauma, major surgery, blood donation or other cause influencing blood volume to be investigated by the PI)
12. Have a high alcohol consumption (more than 2 drinks/day).
13. Consumption of illicit drugs based on reported use (based on anamnesis only).
14. Subject having a hierarchical link with the investigator or co-investigators.
15. Fever (body temperature \>37.5 °C), on day 1 of the feeding scheme
16. Subject who cannot be expected to comply with treatment (malaria or helminths) or study procedure.
17. Currently participating or having participated in another clinical trial during the past month prior to the beginning of this study.
18. Enrolment in any (micronutrient) food program
19. Subjects not willing and/or not able to comply with scheduled visits and the requirements of the study protocol.