Effect of Iron-fortified Pea Powder on Exercise Performance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Female endurance athletes are susceptible to iron deficiency and this can impact their exercise performance. This study assesses the impact of an pea protein supplement with high iron bio-availability on iron status and exercise performance.

Detailed Description
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Female endurance athletes are susceptible to iron deficiency due to poor iron intake from diets or possibly because of destruction of red blood cells during foot-strike hemolysis. This study will evaluate the impact of 8-weeks of iron supplementation through consumption of a pea-protein power that has high iron bio-availability due to low phytate levels. This will be compared to consumption of regular iron protein powder and maltodextrin placebo by randomizing participants to three groups. Participants will be assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of supplementation for exercise performance (maximal aerobic capacity and a 5 km time trial running test), blood levels of ferritin and hemoglobin, and body composition (fat mass and lean tissue mass).

Official Title
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Effect of Low-phytate Pea Powder With High Iron Bioavailability on Iron Status of Female Runners

Conditions
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Iron-deficiency

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Low phytate pea powder
* Dietary Supplement: Regular pea powder
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo (maltodextrin)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Female Regularly participate in aerobic endurance training Exclusion Criteria: Any contra-indications to exercise testing as determined with the Get Active Questionnaire

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants are being randomized to three groups for the 8-week intervention: Pea power with high iron bio-availability Regular pea powder Placebo (maltodextrin)
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Pea power with high iron bio-availability<br>Pea powder with low phytate levels to increase iron bio-availability (7mg iron per day) | Dietary Supplement: Low phytate pea powder<br>* Exercise performance with low phytate pea powder<br>|
| Active Comparator: Pea powder<br>Pea powder with normal phytate levels (7mg iron per day) | Dietary Supplement: Regular pea powder<br>* Exercise performance with regular pea powder<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Placebo (maltodextrin) powder (0g iron per day) | Dietary Supplement: Placebo (maltodextrin)<br>* Exercise performance with placebo (maltodextrin)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in ferritin levels | blood ferritin levels | Up to 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in maximal aerobic capacity | Maximal aerobic capacity (mL/kg/min) measured on a treadmill | Up to 8 weeks | 
| Change from baseline in exercise time trial performance | Time (minutes) to complete 5 km running on a treadmill | Up to 8 weeks | 
| Change from baseline in hemoglobin levels | Blood hemoglobin concentration | Up to 8 weeks | 
| Change from baseline in lean tissue mass | Lean tissue mass (kg) measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry | Up to 8 weeks | 
| Change from baseline in fat mass | Fat mass (kg) measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry | Up to 8 weeks |