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Zinc Supplementation in Sickle Cell Disease: A Precursor to the Think Zinc for Bones Trial

Who can join

Ages 15 to 40 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: ≥ 15.0 to ≤ 40.0 years
* Diagnosis: SCD-SS or SCD-S Beta zero Thalassemia, in steady state (defined as a minimum of 2 weeks days following pain crisis)
* Male or Female

Exclusion Criteria:

* Taking any supplement containing zinc and unable/willing to stop for 3 months prior to study start
* 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D \< 20 ng/mL
* On chronic transfusion therapy (defined as \>8 Transfusions/year) and iron overloaded (defined as liver iron concentration \> 7 mg/g OR average serum ferritin \>4000 ug/L)
* Unable swallow pills or take daily supplement as instructed
* Currently participating in another investigational drug trial
* Prior diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (eGFR \< 30 mL/min/1.73m2)

About the study

The goal of this short term prospective Phase II study is to compare the effects of two alternate daily doses of zinc (25 and 40 mg/day) in 34 randomly assigned homozygous Sickle Cell Disease (SCD-SS) patients aged 15-40 years old. The main question it aims to answer is: Which biomarkers are most responsive to zinc supplementation, and what is the maximum tolerated zinc dose that induces the desired changes in biomarkers of bone turnover? Participants will be recruited from 6 American Society Hematology Research Collaborative SCD Centers. Eligible SCD subjects will be invited to participate in the 16-week study, involving 2 baseline blood draws 4 weeks apart, followed by a 12-week zinc intervention. The findings from this study will be used to determine the dosage of zinc to be used in a larger, future study on the long term impact of zinc supplementation on bone health in SCD-SS.

What is being tested

• 25 mg/day zinc (drug)
• 40 mg/day zinc (drug)

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco · Participants: 34 · Started: Feb 14, 2026

Contact the study team

• Beth Anne Martin · Phone: 480-793-2162
• Ellen Fung, PhD · Phone: 510-428-3885

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06260891

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Sickle Cell Disease

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.