Actively Recruiting
Validating the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Technique for Muscle Outcomes
Led by University of Toronto · Updated on 2026-01-05
8
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying protein metabolism by comparing a new non-invasive technique called indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) with the standard muscle biopsy method to measure muscle protein synthesis. The study aims to see how well the IAAO method, which assesses whole-body protein synthesis based on liver metabolism, reflects muscle protein synthesis. This research could reduce the need for invasive procedures in muscle and nutrition studies. Participants will consume 12 protein beverages over 6 hours, each given every half hour. These drinks contain 0.9 grams of protein per kilogram of fat-free mass per day and are enriched with stable isotopes of phenylalanine. These isotopes help measure muscle and whole-body protein synthesis during and after feeding. During the study, researchers will monitor protein synthesis by measuring phenylalanine excretion and oxidation, as well as muscle protein synthesis rates over 6.5 hours. The study includes healthy adults aged 18 to 35 with normal body measurements. Participants must follow study rules such as avoiding extra physical activity before certain sessions. The total participation time involves consuming beverages and undergoing metabolic measurements to assess protein metabolism.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Validating IAAO for Muscle Outcomes
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Participants aged 18 to 35 years old
- Body mass index (BMI) within 18.5 to 24.9
- Waist-to-hip ratio less than 0.95 for males and less than 0.8 for females
- Willingness to follow study rules, including avoiding extra physical activity 48 hours before session 4
- Female participants must have a self-reported regular menstrual cycle of 25 to 35 days within the last 3 months
- Physical activity score of 24 or more on the Godin leisure time exercise questionnaire
You will not qualify if you...
- Inability to follow study compliance rules as judged by the principal investigator
- Regular use of tobacco or illicit drugs, including growth hormone or testosterone
- Current use of hormonal contraceptives
- History of allergy to local anesthetics such as lidocaine
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 6 hours
Participants consume 12 half-hourly isoenergetic, isonitrogenous beverages over 6 hours that contain protein and stable isotope tracers to measure muscle protein synthesis and whole-body protein synthesis.
1 in-person visit lasting 6 hours
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Kinesiology & Physical Education
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2C9
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sabrina T Barsky, Ph.D.
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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