Effects of consuming an iron supplement with a meal containing animal or plant-based meat on indicators of iron status and anemia in women of reproductive age with iron deficiency: a randomized, controlled study.

IF 6.5 1区医学 Q1 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Pub Date : 2025-07-07 DOI:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.07.002

Stephen R Hennigar, Katelyn M Miller, Robert D Murphy, Amy Braymer, Christy L Mayet, Frank L Greenway, Susan N Cheung, Camila Weschenfelder, Claire E Berryman

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Animal meat contains heme iron, which is more bioavailable and better absorbed than non-heme iron found in plants. Animal meat also contains a "meat factor" that stimulates absorption of non-heme iron.

Objective: To determine whether consuming an iron supplement, a source of non-heme iron, with a meal containing animal meat once a day for 8 weeks leads to improvements in iron status in females with iron deficiency compared to those consuming the same iron supplement with a meal containing plant-based meat.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded, parallel-arm study, non-pregnant women of reproductive age (n=52; 24 ± 7 y; body mass index 22.9 ± 3.0 kg/m²) with low iron stores (serum ferritin <25 μg/L) were randomized to consume an iron supplement containing 32 mg elemental iron (from ferrous sulfate) with a lunch meal containing either 4 oz. of 1) beef (Animal) or 2) Beyond Meat (Plant) once a day for 8 weeks. Meals were identical except for the addition of Animal or Plant. The primary outcomes were biochemical indicators of iron status and anemia. Data are presented as means ± standard deviation.

Results: Baseline indicators of iron status and anemia did not differ between groups. Daily consumption of an iron supplement with a lunch meal for 8 weeks improved serum ferritin (main time effect: +10.7 ± 9.6 μg/L, P<0.0001), transferrin saturation (main time effect: +5.1 ± 18.7%, P=0.048), soluble transferrin receptor (main time effect: -0.6 ± 1.0 mg/L, P<0.001), body iron stores (main time effect: +2.8 ± 3.1 mg/kg, P<0.0001), and hemoglobin (main time effect: +0.5 ± 0.9 g/dL, P=0.0002) regardless of whether the meals contained Animal or Plant (treatment-by-time interaction: P>0.05 for all indicators).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that the "meat factor" does not contribute substantially to improvements in iron status in women of reproductive age with iron deficiency when consumed with an iron supplement for 8 weeks.

Clinical trial registry: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04793906.

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一项随机对照研究：在含动物或植物性肉类的膳食中摄入铁补充剂对缺铁育龄妇女铁状态和贫血指标的影响

背景：动物肉中含有血红素铁，与植物中的非血红素铁相比，血红素铁具有更高的生物利用度和更好的吸收。动物肉还含有一种“肉因子”，可以刺激非血红素铁的吸收。目的：确定与食用同样的铁补充剂并食用植物性肉类的女性相比，每天一次食用含动物肉的膳食中摄入铁补充剂（非血红素铁的来源），持续8周，是否会改善缺铁女性的铁状态。方法：在一项随机、双盲、平行对照研究中，育龄未怀孕妇女(n=52；24±7 y；结果：铁状态和贫血的基线指标在两组之间没有差异。每日补充铁并以午餐为食，连续8周可改善血清铁蛋白水平（主要时间效应：+10.7±9.6 μg/L，各指标均P0.05）。结论：研究结果表明，“肉类因素”对铁缺乏症育龄妇女在服用铁补充剂8周后铁状况的改善没有实质性的贡献。临床试验注册：该试验在clinicaltrials.gov注册为NCT04793906。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 医学-营养学

CiteScore

12.40

自引率

4.20%

发文量

332

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is recognized as the most highly rated peer-reviewed, primary research journal in nutrition and dietetics.It focuses on publishing the latest research on various topics in nutrition, including but not limited to obesity, vitamins and minerals, nutrition and disease, and energy metabolism. Purpose: The purpose of AJCN is to: Publish original research studies relevant to human and clinical nutrition. Consider well-controlled clinical studies describing scientific mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of dietary interventions in the context of disease prevention or health benefits. Encourage public health and epidemiologic studies relevant to human nutrition. Promote innovative investigations of nutritional questions employing epigenetic, genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches. Include solicited editorials, book reviews, solicited or unsolicited review articles, invited controversy position papers, and letters to the Editor related to prior AJCN articles. Peer Review Process: All submitted material with scientific content undergoes peer review by the Editors or their designees before acceptance for publication.