NCT07542873Completed
Iron Absorption in The Low Oxygen Exposure and Weight Status (LOWS) Study
Effects of Energy Restriction and Intermittent Hypoxia on Iron Absorption in Obesity
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 5 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Declines in iron status are common in those with obesity and may be due to obesity-related chronic inflammation; however, the effects of reducing inflammation following diet-induced weight loss on iron metabolism are poorly understood. Low environmental oxygen exposure increases dietary iron absorption and availability to supply iron for erythropoiesis but has not yet been tested in the context of weight loss. This study is designed to investigate diet-induced weight loss (inflammation reduction) and overnight low oxygen exposure (erythropoiesis stimulating agent) as strategies to improve dietary iron absorption in obesity.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 16 (actual)
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2026
- Start date
- 21 Apr 2025
- Primary completion date
- 1 Sept 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center
- Diseases
- Obesity
- NCT number
- NCT07542873
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 16
- From 21 Apr 2025 to the primary completion date, 1 Sept 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Evidence of prior high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) diagnosis
Other illness
- Cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or any condition that interferes with oxygen delivery/transport (e.g., kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
- Oxygen saturation \< 95% while awake or oxygen saturation dips below 88% for a total of ≥ 10 min overnight in normoxic conditions
- Evidence of apnea or other sleeping disorders
- Diagnosis or family history of sickle cell anemia/trait
- Present condition of alcoholism, anabolic steroids, or other substance abuse issues
Lab values
- Hemoglobin \<13 g/dL for males, \<12 g/dL for females
Other
- Living in areas that are more than 1,200 m (\~4,000 feet), or have traveled to areas that are more than 1,200 m for five days or more within the last 2 months
- Hematocrit \<42% for males, \<36% for females
- Blood donation within 8 weeks of beginning the study
- Women who are pregnant, lactating, planning to become pregnant, or who have had an irregular menstrual cycle in the past 6 mo.
- Weight gain or loss \> 10% of body weight during the past 6 months
- Adults unable to consent
Who the study is looking for
- Obese (BMI between 30-39.9 kg/m2)
- Born at altitudes below 2,100 meters (\~7,000 feet)
- Currently residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or surrounding area
- Not taking any medication(s) that interfere with oxygen delivery/transport for 4 weeks prior to and throughout the entire study (e.g., includes sedatives, sleeping aids, tranquilizers and/or any medication that depresses ventilation, diuretics, alpha and beta blockers).
- Willing to refrain from smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco, and dietary supplement use throughout the entire study.
- Willing to have a hypoxic tent set-up in their home and spend 8 consecutive hours per night in the tent for 8 weeks
Age in the registry: 22 years to 65 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington Biomedical Research Center Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Baton Rouge | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.