Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Leucine Requirements in School-Age Children

This study aims to discover the right amount of leucine, an important nutrient found in foods like meat and dairy, that school-aged children (6-10 years old) need. Leucine is vital for muscle growth and overall development. Currently, recommendations for children are based on adult needs, which might not be accurate for growing bodies. Through special diets, safe tracking methods, and simple breath samples, researchers hope to set better guidelines. This could help ensure children get the correct nutrients to grow up healthy and strong, supporting their muscle development and overall well-being. It's about making sure their diets match their unique needs as they grow.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Enrolment target

Start

01 May 2026

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2027

Nutrient Intake

What is this study about?

This research wants to understand how much of a special nutrient called leucine children aged 6 to 10 truly need. Leucine is a building block that comes from the food we eat, like meat, eggs, beans, and nuts. It's really important because it helps our muscles grow and work properly. Our bodies can't make leucine, so we have to get it from our diet every day.

The interesting thing is that the current advice for how much leucine children should have is mostly based on what adults need. However, children are still growing and developing rapidly, so their needs might be different. The scientists believe that children might actually need more leucine than currently recommended to support their healthy growth and muscle development. Finding the correct amount is a key step towards ensuring children have the best possible nutrition.

To figure this out, the study will involve children eating special diets and then having simple breath tests. These tests are safe and don't involve needles or anything uncomfortable. By doing this, the researchers hope to create new, more accurate guidelines for leucine intake specifically for school-aged children. These updated guidelines could play a big part in making sure children get the right balance of nutrients for optimal health and strong bodies as they grow.

Key takeaways

Aims to find the exact leucine needs for children aged 6-10.
Leucine is a vital nutrient for muscle growth, found in protein-rich foods.
Current recommendations might not be right for growing children.
Study uses safe diets and breath tests, no injections.
Results could lead to better nutritional advice for children.
Participation involves 1 planning visit and 5 study days.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, children need to be generally healthy and between 6 and 10 years old when they first sign up. They should also be of a healthy weight for their age, specifically between the 3rd and 85th percentile according to international growth standards.

It's also really important that both the child and their parents or guardians are happy to take part and understand what's involved. The child will be asked if they agree to participate, and their parents or guardians will need to give their written permission.

Children won't be able to join if they have any ongoing health problems, are taking certain prescription medicines that might affect how their body uses nutrients, have recently lost weight without trying, or have been unwell with a fever, sickness, or bad runny nose in the last five days. They also need to be able to follow the study instructions.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is your child generally healthy?
Is your child between 6 and 10 years old?
Is your child a healthy weight for their age?
Has your child been well recently (no fever, vomiting, or bad runny nose in the last 5 days)?
Is your child currently taking any prescription medicines that might affect digestion or metabolism?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If your child takes part in this study, they will have one initial visit to get everything organised. After that, they will return for five separate study visits. These visits will involve eating special diets where the amount of leucine is carefully controlled. Each time, they will have a different amount of leucine to help us understand what their body needs.

On each study day, your child will need to fast (not eat) for 10 hours before coming in. During the visit, they will eat eight small meals over several hours. These meals will include special cookies and a drink made with a flavoured powder, corn oil, and specific nutrient building blocks. All of this is designed to be very precise about the nutrients they are receiving. They will also collect simple breath samples throughout the day. There are no medications involved in this study, and the entire participation, including the pre-study visit and the five study visits, will spread out over a period that allows for careful monitoring.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help us understand how to improve dietary guidelines for children, potentially benefiting many in the future. While the special diets are carefully prepared, there's a very small chance your child might not enjoy the taste of the study meals, or may feel a little hungry during the fasting period. The methods used are designed to be safe and non-invasive. You and your child are entirely free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it will not affect your child's medical care.

Locations (1)

BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
Verified postcode
Vancouver, Canada

Common questions

What is leucine?

Leucine is an essential building block, called an amino acid, that your body needs but can't make. You get it from foods like meat, dairy, eggs, and nuts, and it's important for muscle growth.

Why is this study important for children?

Current advice for how much leucine children need is based on adults. This study aims to find the right amount for growing children aged 6-10 to help them develop healthily.

What will my child eat during the study?

Your child will eat special cookies and a drink that are carefully made to control the exact amount of leucine they receive. They will eat several small meals during each study visit.

Is the study safe?

Yes, the study uses safe methods that don't involve needles. They use special diets and simple breath tests to measure how the body uses leucine.

How many visits are involved?

There will be one initial visit to prepare, followed by five separate study visits on different days where your child will be at the research facility for several hours.

How to find out more

Kendall Plant

kendall.plant@bcchr.ca 604-875-2000 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.