Reference body composition measurements in healthy younger and older adults
Official title: CanCan Body Composition Study
Run by Pennington Biomedical Research Center · NCT07305753 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test gold-standard methods for measuring body water and muscle mass in healthy adults aged 21–39 and 70+ to build a reference dataset.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 20 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Pennington Biomedical Research Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 15, 2026 |
| Study ends | May 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 26, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07305753 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Healthy adults aged 21–39 or 70 and older who weigh under 440 pounds, are not pregnant, do not have chronic illnesses or disqualifying implants, and are willing to provide biospecimens and imaging for research storage.
✕Probably not a fit
People with chronic illnesses (including active cancer), pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with pacemakers or certain implants, individuals over 440 pounds, or those taking medications that alter fluid balance are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study will collect criterion measurements of extracellular water (using sodium bromide), total body water (using deuterium dilution), and skeletal muscle mass (using D3‑creatine) in a stratified sample of healthy younger and older adults. These reference measurements will be compared with commonly available devices to determine their accuracy and precision. Participants will be screened to exclude chronic illness, pregnancy, disqualifying implants, extreme body weight, or medications that alter fluid compartments. The resulting dataset is intended to support development of new measurement protocols for future studies in patients with cancer and other clinical populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the dataset could improve the accuracy of body composition measurements and help clinicians better track fluid and muscle changes in patients, including those with cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Deuterium and bromide dilution methods are established reference standards for body water and have a long track record, while D3‑creatine is a newer but increasingly validated approach for estimating skeletal muscle mass.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being either male or female * Being an adult \>20 - \<40 or \>70 years of age. * Having a body weight of less than 440 pounds * Being willing to comply with the study procedures * Not having a chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, cancer, etc.) * Must be willing to have biospecimens and imaging stored for research use Exclusion Criteria: * Being pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding * Having medical implants such as a pacemaker or metal joint replacements * Having had a mastectomy, breast reduction, or breast implants * Having hair that cannot fit in a swim cap * Having a body weight greater than 440 pounds * Taking medications that alter the body's fluid compartments (ex: diuretics) * Not willing to have biospecimens and imaging stored for future research use.
Where it's running
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Steven B Heymsfield, MD
- Email: steven.heymsfield@pbrc.edu
- Phone: 2257632541
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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.