Analyzing breath to understand malnutrition

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• 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

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.