Analyzing breath to understand malnutrition
Breath Ammonia as a Malnutrition Screening Tool
This study is testing if certain breath markers can help us understand malnutrition in people by looking at how they change with different diets.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 95 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Pennington Biomedical Research Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
| Trial ID | NCT06115148 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research investigates the relationship between breath molecules and nutritional status, specifically focusing on ammonia and nitric oxide as potential biomarkers for malnutrition. Participants will undergo blood and breath sampling, complete health questionnaires, and receive physical examinations to assess their nutritional status. A subset of participants will also engage in an interventional phase, consuming study beverages and fasting to observe changes in breath markers in response to short-term nutritional changes. The goal is to identify early evidence of breath biomarkers that correlate with malnutrition.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-95 who have been diagnosed with malnutrition.
Not a fit: Patients with chronic kidney, liver, or pulmonary diseases, or those who are pregnant or nursing, may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to non-invasive methods for early detection of malnutrition.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using breath analysis for nutritional assessment is innovative, similar studies have not been widely reported, making this a novel investigation.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age: 18-95 years 2. Malnutrition group (Cross-sectional study only); not involved in intervention: Diagnosed with malnutrition (verified in medical history) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Chronic kidney, liver or pulmonary disease 2. Anabolic steroid use other than testosterone (e.g., oxandrolone) 3. Patients judged unsuitable for enrollment by the study medical investigator 4. Pregnant women or women who are nursing 5. Unable or unwilling to consume study beverages or fast for 24 hours each arm
Where this trial is running
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center — Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jacob Mey, PhD, RD — Pennington Biomedical Research Center
- Study coordinator: Jacob T Mey, PhD, RD
- Email: jacob.mey@pbrc.edu
- Phone: 225-763-2644
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.