Painless breath test may end need for muscle biopsies in protein studies

NCT ID NCT07317921

First seen Jan 11, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a non-invasive breath test can accurately measure how the body builds muscle after eating protein, compared to the current gold-standard method that requires muscle biopsies. Eight healthy adults will drink protein shakes with special tracers, then provide breath, urine, and blood samples along with two small muscle biopsies. If the breath test works, it could make future nutrition research much easier and less painful for volunteers.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Kinesiology & Physical Education

    RECRUITING

    Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C9, Canada

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Protein drink with stable isotope tracers

What this could lead to

If successful, this could replace painful muscle biopsies with a simple breath test to study how protein builds muscle.

What could go wrong

This is a very small early study (8 people) that only checks if the new method matches the old one. It does not test any treatment or health benefit.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.