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Measuring Protein Turnover in Humans Across the Lifespan by Metabolic Labeling With Deuterium Oxide

NCT06269653 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 75

Last updated 2026-03-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

Proteins are essential to the health and structure of the cells that make up body tissues. Most proteins become damaged over time and are replaced with new ones. This process is called "protein turnover." Stress, disease, and aging can affect this process. Researchers want to better understand how aging affects protein turnover.

Objective:

To measure rates of protein turnover in healthy adults.

Eligibility:

Healthy people aged 20 years and older with a body mass index between 20 and 30.

Design:

Participants will have 6 study visits over 4 to 6 weeks. They will fast 12 hours before each visit.

Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam, with blood and urine tests and tests of their heart function. They will lie down while blood pressure cuffs are used on their arms and legs.

Participants will be given bottles of heavy water to drink at home on a schedule for 21 days. Each bottle holds about 3.5 tablespoons. Heavy water is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, like normal drinking water. It is safe to drink and has been used in research for many years.

Participants will have tests during study visits, including:

Imaging scans of a leg.

Exercise on a treadmill.

Biopsies of muscle, skin, and fat: Small samples of tissue will be cut from the calf and abdomen.

Resting metabolic rate: Participants will lie still and breathe into a mask for 20 minutes.

Knee/grip strength: Participants will do strength tests with their legs. They will squeeze a device with their hands.

D3-Creatine: Participants will take 1 pill of D3-Creatine, which occurs naturally in muscle.

Conditions

  • Healthy Volunteers

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Luigi Ferrucci, M.D. · National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
120 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-06-26
Primary Completion
2027-03-01
Completion
2027-03-01

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06269653 on ClinicalTrials.gov