Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body lacks enough iron to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It's the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting about 30% of people globally. Treatment typically starts with oral or intravenous iron, addressing underlying causes like heavy periods or bleeding in the digestive tract.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing newer intravenous iron formulations that work faster with fewer infusions, oral iron compounds designed to cause less nausea and constipation, and treatments for conditions that cause iron deficiency like heavy menstrual bleeding. Researchers are also studying hepcidin — a hormone that controls iron absorption — and drugs that might block it to help people absorb iron better.
Hepcidin modulators
Drugs targeting hepcidin could help people with conditions where the body produces too much of this hormone, blocking iron absorption even when iron stores are low. Several compounds are being tested in anemia related to chronic kidney disease and inflammation.
Novel iron formulations
New oral iron compounds aim to reduce the nausea and constipation that cause many people to stop taking standard iron pills. Some use different iron salts or coating technologies to improve tolerability.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on hemoglobin level, iron study results, the cause of iron deficiency, and whether someone has tried standard iron supplements.
What types of trials are currently open
- Iron formulation trials — Comparing different forms of oral or intravenous iron to see which restore iron levels faster with fewer side effects.
- Underlying cause trials — Testing treatments for conditions that cause iron deficiency, such as hormonal therapies for heavy menstrual bleeding or medications for gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Absorption studies — Testing drugs that affect how the body absorbs or uses iron, including hepcidin blockers.
- Dosing studies — Comparing different iron doses and schedules to find the most effective approach with the fewest side effects.
Recently added Iron Deficiency Anemia trials
Give your premature infant iron supplements at specific feeding milestones
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the serum ferritin level and hematocrit level in very preterm infants receiving donor breast milk(DBM) with an early iron supplementation protocol . The main questions it aims to answer are: Does earlier iron supplementation provide increased ferritin levels at 14 and 28 days of life in subjects fed primarily donor breast milk? Iron supplementation will be implemented when the infant achieves 80ml/kg/day of enteral feeds, as contrasted to the current protocol of full feeds (140 to 160ml/kg/day), the latter usually by Day 14 of life. At day of life(DOL) 14 (± 4 days), a blood sample will be obtained for serum ferritin determination. Similarly, a second blood draw would be performed at day of life 28 (± 4 days) or prior to discharge, whichever comes earlier
Receive iron deficiency screening and treatment before or early in pregnancy
This cluster randomized trial compares preconception with early-pregnancy anemia screening and iron supplementation, assessing late pregnancy iron deficiency anemia and maternal and infant outcomes.
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