Measuring energy metabolism in infants

Measurement of Energy Metabolism in Infants: BabyEE Pilot

Pennington Biomedical Research Center · NCT02683473

This study is testing a new way to measure how much energy healthy newborns use in their first three months to better understand their growth and metabolism.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment70 (estimated)
Ages1 Month to 3 Months
SexAll
SponsorPennington Biomedical Research Center (other)
Locations1 site (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Trial IDNCT02683473 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to measure energy expenditure in healthy, full-term infants during their first three months of life. It will assess the reliability of various energy metabolism measurements, including sleeping metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate, using a new infant metabolic chamber. The study will involve multiple visits to evaluate the accuracy of these measurements and how they relate to infant size and body composition. By establishing these protocols, the research seeks to enhance our understanding of infant energy metabolism.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy, full-term infants aged 1 month to 3 months who are exclusively fed breast milk or infant formula.

Not a fit: Patients who may not benefit from this study include those with congenital abnormalities, disabilities, or acute illnesses, as well as preterm infants.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide valuable insights into infant energy metabolism, potentially guiding interventions for infant overnutrition and development.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is relatively novel, previous studies have explored energy metabolism in infants, but comprehensive metabolic phenotyping in this specific manner is less common.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy, full-term infant
* Aged 1 month (28 days) to 3 months (12 weeks, 6 days) at the first visit
* Exclusively fed breast milk and/or infant formula
* Willing to accept doubly-labeled water

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to complete 3 clinic visits within about 14 days at Pennington Biomedical Research Center
* Born preterm (\< 37 weeks gestation)
* Congenital abnormality or disability
* Gastric reflux
* Acute illness within 7 days of the study (fever, diarrhea)
* Use of medications to treat a chronic condition (does not include use of vitamin supplements or PRN medication for flatulence or reflux such as Pepcid)

Where this trial is running

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Infant Development, Infant Overnutrition

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.