The Effects of Acute Erythropoietin on Hepcidin and Dietary Iron Absorption Following Military-relevant Exercise in Energy Deficit: Pilot Study

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Iron Absorption

In brief

Military personnel frequently experience declines in iron status during training and when in the field, which may compromise performance. The overall purpose of this study is to determine why the decline in iron status occurs and potential countermeasures. Participants will be given an acute dose of erythropoietin (EPO) or placebo and will complete a 90-minute load carriage exercise test. Prior to the main trial, this pilot study will determine the optimal approach to assess iron absorption following exercise (red blood cell incorporation or plasma isotope appearance), the percentage of iron incorporated into red blood cells with EPO compared to placebo, and the timing of the intervention.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07517562

Run by

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

People needed

6

Starts

2025-09-01

Expected to finish

2026-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-08

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Males and premenopausal females ages 18-45 years
• Physically active

You may not qualify if…

• Low iron stores (ferritin <15 mg/mL)
• Anemia (females: hemoglobin < 12 g/dL, males: hemoglobin < 13 g/dL)

Where it is running

• LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center — Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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