Understanding tryptophan needs during pregnancy

Determining Dietary Tryptophan Requirements in Healthy Pregnant Women Using the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method

This study is testing how much tryptophan pregnant women need in their diets to see if it helps them and their babies during pregnancy.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: University of British Columbia (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Vancouver, British Columbia)
• Trial ID: NCT06519071 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to determine the dietary requirements for tryptophan in pregnant women using the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation (IAAO) method. Participants will undergo a series of assessments including anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests, and dietary evaluations after an overnight fast. On designated study days, they will receive varying amounts of tryptophan intake while their energy expenditure is monitored. This approach seeks to provide a more accurate understanding of amino acid needs during different stages of pregnancy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are cis-gendered pregnant women aged 20-40, carrying a single child, and between 11-20 weeks or 31-40 weeks of gestation.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant, have multiple pregnancies, or have significant health issues such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved dietary recommendations for pregnant women, ensuring better health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using IAAO for amino acid requirements is established, this specific application to pregnant women is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Cis-gendered pregnant woman.
* 20-40 years of age.
* Pregnant with a single child.
* Between 11-20 weeks of gestation or 31-40 weeks of gestation.
* Free of chronic diseases/acute diseases and have a full range of physical mobility.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women who are not pregnant.
* Women who are pregnant with more than one child (this changes amino acid demands) or were pregnant in the 6 months before the current pregnancy.
* Women with a history of spontaneous abortion (within the last 6 months) or preterm birth.
* Women not in good health or have a metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, genetic, or immune disorder, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy-related anemia, or pregnancy-related jaundice.
* Claustrophobic women (a clear hood will be placed, which can easily be removed, over the participants head for approximately 20 min to measure energy expenditure).
* Women who are substance dependent (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs).
* Women who have severe nausea/vomiting throughout their pregnancy.
* Women under the age of 20 years and over the age of 40 years.
* Women who have lost weight (approximately 1.5kg or more) during their current pregnancy.
* Women with a pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) under 19 or over 28 〖kg/m〗\^2.

Where this trial is running

Vancouver, British Columbia

• BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Rajavel Elango, PhD — University of British Columbia
• Study coordinator: Rajavel Elango, PhD

Conditions: Pregnancy, Amino Acids, Tryptophan, Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation, Stable Isotopes