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Research & Case Studies

The Lucky Iron Fish and Lucky Iron Leaf are simple health innovations designed to help combat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia

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Verified Resources

Quantitative Results

Clinical research

… shows the Fish/Leaf is effective at improving iron stores among different populations. We continue to conduct research in the following areas: large volume cooking, pregnancy and iron deficiency, and HIV and iron deficiency.

Two doctoral theses

… 7 peer-reviewed publications, and 4 refereed conference proceedings have been published to date, on the efficacy and use of the Fish/Leaf. A further 6 papers have been submitted for publication.

Clinical trials

… in Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and India suggest that the Fish/Leaf alleviates iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Regular use of the Fish/Leaf has been shown to improve iron status by 46-80%.

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Pilot studies

… and published clinical trials conducted in diverse communities in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Central America, and the Indian subcontinent show compliance rates for the Fish/Leaf exceed 85%.

Abundant Research

To date, 2 doctoral theses, 7 peer-reviewed publications, and 4 refereed conference proceedings on the efficacy and use of the Fish/Leaf have been published. Several trials and publications are underway. These research trials have been completed by independent institutions around the world, including India, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Canada, the UK, and Cambodia.

Ongoing Partnerships

The Fish/Leaf is an accessible and affordable solution in the fight to tackle iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia around the globe. Current programs are being implemented with partners in India, Guatemala, Benin, Tanzania, Peru, Senegal and Timor L’Este. Our case studies provide more information about program implementation.

Group of people learning to use Lucky Iron Fish
Academic papers

Research Articles

Overview of existing research: read here.

RODRÍGUEZ-VIVALDI AM, BEERMAN KA

(2018) Testing the efficacy of the Lucky Iron Fish® in reversing iron deficiency in rural, impoverished regions of Guatemalan

RAPPAPORT AI, WHITFIELD KC, CHAPMAN GE, YADA RY, KHEANG KM, LOUISE J, SUMMERLEE AJ, ARMSTRONG GR, GREEN TJ

(2017) Randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a reusable fish-shaped iron ingot to increase hemoglobin concentration in anemic, rural Cambodian women

RODRIGUEZ-RAMIRO I, PERFECTO A, FAIRWEATHER-TAIT SJ

(2017) Dietary Factors Modulate Iron Uptake in Caco-2 Cells from an Iron Ingot Used as a Home Fortificant to Prevent Iron Deficiency

ARMSTRONG GR, DEWEY CE, SUMMERLEE AJ

(2017) Iron Release from the Lucky Iron Fish™: Safety considerations

ARMSTRONG GR

(2016) Commercializing The Lucky Iron Fish™ Using Social Enterprise: A novel Health Innovation For Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Cambodia and Beyond

CHARLES CV, DEWEY CE, HALL A, HAK C, CHANNARY S, SUMMERLEE AJ

(2015) A Randomized Control Trial Using a Fish-Shaped Iron Ingot for the
Amelioration of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Rural Cambodian Women

ARMSTRONG GR, SUMMERLEE AJ

(2014) The Etiology, Treatment and Effective Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Women and Young Children Worldwide

CHARLES CV

(2012) Happy Fish: A Novel Supplementation Technique to Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia in Women in Rural Cambodia

CHARLES CV, SUMMERLEE AJ, DEWEY CE

(2011) Iron content of Cambodian foods when prepared in cooking pots containing an iron ingot

Ongoing partnerships

Case Studies

Smiling children holding Lucky Iron Fish peru

Peru

Community distribution of the Lucky Iron Fish in high altitude communities in Peru

Villagers in India holding the Lucky Iron Leaf

India

Improving cognitive development of children through regular use of the Lucky Iron Leaf in Bihar

Smiling women and children while working with CARE in Benin

Bénin

Distribution of the Lucky Iron Leaf in rural communities in Bénin through VSLA Network

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