Sulphur Amino Acid Requirements in Adults >60 Years

September 11, 2023 updated by: Glenda Courtney-Martin, The Hospital for Sick Children

The Sulphur Amino Acid Requirements in Healthy Adults Over 60 Years

This study aims to determine the requirements for the sulphur amino acids in adults over the age of 60 years:

  1. the total sulphur amino acid requirement as methionine only. Methionine is an essential amino acid.
  2. the minimum methionine requirement as methionine in the presence of excess dietary cysteine.

It is known that protein and amino acid metabolism may be altered with age and methionine and cysteine, in particular, may be important in the diet of older adults.

Up to 7 different levels of methionine intake as methionine only (no dietary cysteine) and up to 7 different levels of methionine intake in the presence of excess dietary cysteine will be tested in each subject in random order. Each level of intake will involve a 3-day maintenance diet, with measures being collected on the third.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The sulphur amino acids (SAA) are methionine and cysteine. Methionine is essential and must be obtained from the diet whereas cysteine is considered non-essential and is synthesized from methionine. They have many other important roles that are secondary to their role in protein building. For example, they are needed to make the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), which protects the body's cells from damage. However, protein and GSH metabolism have been shown to change with age and hence, the SAA requirements may also be changed. Despite this, current SAA requirements are based on studies conducted in young adults. Thus, there is a need to determine the SAA requirements directly in older adults.

The purpose of the study is to apply the minimally invasive indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) protocol to determine the SAA requirements in healthy adults over 60 years of age. The requirements will be determined as (1) the total sulphur amino acid requirement as methionine only and (2) the minimum methionine requirement by providing methionine in the presence of excess dietary cysteine.

A pre-study assessment will be conducted to assess health status using: medical history and a physical exam; and a blood draw (10mL) for fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c to test for diabetes, vitamin B and folate concentrations, and urea and creatinine to test renal function.

In order to determine the requirements, each participant will be studied at up to 7 varying intakes levels of methionine in random order. Each intake level will be studied over 3-days: two adaptation days (day 1 and 2) and one study day (day 3). On the adaptation days, participants will be provided with a milkshake diet providing all the protein and nutrients they need. Participants will consume 4 meals/day in their usual home environment. On the 3rd day participants will come to the Clinical Research Centre at SickKids where they will be given hourly meals and breath and urine samples at specified times.A blood sample will also be collected for analysis of serum insulin, glucose and secondary parameters (i.e. concentrations of amino acids, glutathione, homocysteine and CRP). The mean (estimate average requirement) total sulphur amino acid requirement and minimum methionine requirement will be calculated with breakpoint analysis using a two-phase linear regression crossover analysis.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
16

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8
        • The Hospital for Sick Children

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Consent provided
  • Aged 60 to 90 years old
  • In good general health as evidenced by medical history, physical health and blood draw
  • Fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), urea, creatinine, vitamin-B6, vitamin- B12 and folate levels within normal ranges for age.
  • Willingness to participate in the study.
  • BMI <30 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of chronic disease and/or acute illness known to affect protein/amino acid metabolism (e.g. HIV, diabetes, cancer, liver or kidney disease, acute cold or flu)
  • Taking medications known to affect protein/AA metabolism (e.g. steroids)
  • Inability to tolerate the diet (i.e. allergy)
  • Significant weight loss during the past month or consumption of weight reducing diets.
  • Significant caffeine consumption (>2 cups per day)
  • Significant consumption of alcohol (>1 drink per day i.e. 1 beer or ½ glass of wine).
  • Unwilling to have blood drawn from a venous access, or using a ventilated hood indirect calorimeter for the purposes of the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Sulphur amino acids in Adults > 60

Total sulphur amino acid, as methionine only: all subjects will receive up to 7 methionine test levels, without dietary cysteine, assigned in random order.

Minimum methionine, with excess dietary cysteine: all subjects will receive up to 7 methionine test levels, in the presence of excess and constant dietary cysteine, assigned in random order.
Other: Sulphur amino acids

For the total sulphur amino acid requirement, there are 7 different methionine test levels (without dietary cysteine) ranging from 5 to 40 mg of methionine per kilogram body weight per day.

For the minimum methionine requirement, there are 7 different methionine test levels (with excess dietary cysteine).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Determination of total sulphur amino acid requirements in adults >60 years of age
Time Frame: up to 24 months
methionine requirement the presence of zero cysteine
up to 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Determination of minimum sulphur amino acid requirements in adults >60 years of age
Time Frame: up to 24 months
methionine requirement in the presence of excess cysteine
up to 24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
The Hospital for Sick Children

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Glenda Courtney-Martin, MSc, PhD, RD, The Hospital for Sick Children

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 10, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 6, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 19, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 20, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 13, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 11, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1000071600

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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