Best time to measure gallbladder squeezing after a test meal
Official title: The Optimal Measurement Time for the New Gallbladder Function Assessment Method: A Prospective, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Crossover Trial
Run by Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province · NCT07321431 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will try whether a protein bar plus olive oil or two fried eggs makes the gallbladder contract more clearly on ultrasound in healthy adults and find the best time after eating to measure it.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province Academic / other |
| Locations | 5 sites (Lanzhou, Gansu and 4 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 7, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 20, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 20, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07321431 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Healthy adults with normal biliary tract structure on ultrasound, no relevant surgical or biliary disease history, not pregnant or breastfeeding, and without allergy to the test foods are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with gallstones, prior biliary surgery, abnormal gallbladder structure, active biliary or severe systemic disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or food allergies would not be appropriate and are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a multicenter, randomized, single-blind crossover trial in healthy volunteers comparing two oral test meals: two fried eggs versus a protein bar plus 50 ml olive oil. Participants will receive both interventions in separate visits while gallbladder ultrasound scans are performed at multiple time points to measure volume and calculate contraction rates. The study will compare the timing and magnitude of contraction between the two meals to determine the optimal diagnostic time window. Investigators will also examine the stability, reliability, and reproducibility of the protein bar plus olive oil protocol across the participating centers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, a standardized protein bar plus olive oil test could make ultrasound measurement of gallbladder contraction faster and more reproducible across hospitals.
How similar studies have gone: Fatty-meal stimulation with ultrasound or nuclear HIDA testing is an established way to measure gallbladder function, but using a protein bar plus olive oil is a newer variation with limited prior validation.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Ultrasound assessment identifies people with normal biliary tract structure. Exclusion Criteria: * History of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography * Previous gallstone removal surgery with gallbladder preservation * Other biliary tract diseases and related surgical history * History of acute or chronic pancreatitis * History of gastrointestinal surgery * Gastrointestinal obstruction * Dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi * Gallbladder neck polyps * Abnormal gallbladder structure * Gallbladder mass * Biliary infection or stones * Congenital biliary abnormalities * Biliary injury or surgery * Biliary tumors * Gastrointestinal bleeding, liver cirrhosis, or other malignant diseases * Significant arrhythmia, bradycardia, or atrioventricular block * Severe hypertension, liver or kidney insufficiency * Immune, endocrine, hematological, or mental disorders * Severe cerebrovascular disease * Allergy to relevant foods * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Unwillingness or inability to consent to participation
Where it's running
-
Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province
Lanzhou, Gansu, China Recruiting -
The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China Recruiting -
The Jinqiu Hospital of Liaoning Province
Shenyang, Liaoning, China Recruiting -
People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Yinchuan, Ningxia, China Recruiting -
Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xi’an, Shanxi, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Wenbo Meng, M.D. Ph. D. — Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province
- Study coordinator: Wenbo Meng, M.D. Ph. D.
- Email: mengwb@lzu.edu.cn
- Phone: 13919177177
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.