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CompletedNCT02683876Updated Oct 23, 2020Results posted

Exploratory Study of Relationships Between Malodor and Urine Metabolomics

An observational study in Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases, sponsored by Mebo Research, Inc.. Completed at 2 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-10-23.

Sponsored by Mebo Research, Inc. · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
39
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to identify metabolic signatures associated with malodor conditions. The investigators will perform state-of-the art metabolomics tests and bioinformatic data mining to explore if conditions leading to malodor can be screened by metabolomic profiling of urine samples.

Read the detailed description

In this study, metabolite profiling analysis will be carried out on urine samples of individuals with malodor conditions related to metabolism inefficiencies. Metabolic profiles will be identified using the metabolomics equipment located in the NMR, HPLC and MS facilities of the Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC). Multivariate statistical analyses will be used, as well as other approaches to mine complex data from heterogeneous sources.

02

Conditions studied

  • Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Keywords

  • body odor, malodor, halitosis
03

In context

Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

71 studies on the registry are indexed under Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; 19 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 39 is below the median of 300 across 17 observational studies indexed under Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases.

Browse Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Mebo Research, Inc. is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

individuals complaining of uncontrollable episodes of malodor suspected to be caused by inefficient body metabolism

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years or older
  • unpredictable and uncontrollable episodes of malodor
  • willing and able to ship a urine sample (in the kit provided) by an overnight courier to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • good general health

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • serious medical conditions that require treatment
  • conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent participation
  • under the age of 18
  • elect not to participate in the study
05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
39 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Subjects with malodor

    individuals with self-reported odor issues suspected to be associated with microbial imbalance on or inside the body and inefficient metabolism as evidenced from other laboratory tests

  • Healthy control

    individuals not complaining of uncontrollable or unpredictable malodor episodes

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Differences in Metabolite Concentrations in Urine Between Individuals With Malodor Issues and Age-matched Healthy Controls.

    The investigators would like to validate if urine metabolomic profiling can be used for identifying key metabolomic signatures associated with malodor. Differences in metabolite concentrations will be measured by mass spectrometry, to compare urine samples from individuals with malodor issues, and age-matched healthy controls.

    Time frame: time from diagnostic urine sample collection to dispatch of results

Secondary outcomes

  1. Correlations Between Urine Biomarkers and Frequency/Severity of Malodor Symptoms (Questionnaires)

    The investigators will comprehensively analyze the ability of metabolite levels to discriminate frequent and severe from less severe malodor symptoms. The severity of the disease was assessed trough interviews (frequency of key symptoms) and prior laboratory tests.

    Time frame: time from sample collection to notification of results and follow-up needed.

07

Results

Posted Oct 23, 2020

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneSubjects With MalodorHealthy Control
Started1722
Completed1522
Not completed20
Withdrew: Samples damaged during shipping20

Outcome measures

PrimaryDifferences in Metabolite Concentrations in Urine Between Individuals With Malodor Issues and Age-matched Healthy Controls.

The investigators would like to validate if urine metabolomic profiling can be used for identifying key metabolomic signatures associated with malodor. Differences in metabolite concentrations will be measured by mass spectrometry, to compare urine samples from individuals with malodor issues, and age-matched healthy controls.

Time frame:
time from diagnostic urine sample collection to dispatch of results
Reported as:
Mean · uMol/mM creatinine
Differences in Metabolite Concentrations in Urine Between Individuals With Malodor Issues and Age-matched Healthy Controls.
uMol/mM creatinineSubjects With MalodorHealthy Control
Arginine3.4 (1.3 to 7.9)8.6 (1.5 to 18.6)
Citruline0.443 (0.175 to 1.185)0.8 (0.2 to 1.7)
Asymmetric dimethylarginine4.0 (2.8 to 7.0)3.0 (0.2 to 7.0)
Dopamine0.18 (0.10 to 0.28)0.10 (0.066 to 0.30)
Glycine142.5 (45.4 to 283.0)101.0 (37.0 to 300.0)
Histamine0.05 (0.016 to 0.15)0.03 (0.01 to 0.10)
3-Hydroxytetradecenoylcarnitine0.0080 (0.001 to 0.087)0.0020 (0.0008 to 0.0040)
Lysine4.7 (2.3 to 10.3)17.9 (3.6 to 56.1)
SecondaryCorrelations Between Urine Biomarkers and Frequency/Severity of Malodor Symptoms (Questionnaires)

The investigators will comprehensively analyze the ability of metabolite levels to discriminate frequent and severe from less severe malodor symptoms. The severity of the disease was assessed trough interviews (frequency of key symptoms) and prior laboratory tests.

Time frame:
time from sample collection to notification of results and follow-up needed.
Reported as:
Mean · µmol/mmol creatinine
Correlations Between Urine Biomarkers and Frequency/Severity of Malodor Symptoms (Questionnaires)
µmol/mmol creatinineSubjects With More Severe DiseaseSubjects With Less Severe Disease
Arginine3 ± 23 ± 2
Citruline0.5 ± 0.30.4 ± 0.3
Asymmetric dimethylarginine4 ± 23 ± 1
Dopamine0.2 ± 0.10.2 ± 0.1
Glycine146 ± 91121 ± 90
Histamine0.06 ± 0.040.04 ± 0.03
3-Hydroxytetradecenoylcarnitine0.012 ± 0.0280.002 ± 0.001
Lysine5 ± 34 ± 3

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse event data was collected for 6 months after sample collection, 1 year after initial enrollment.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Subjects With Malodor0/17 (0%)0/17 (0%)0/17 (0%)
Healthy Control0/22 (0%)0/22 (0%)0/22 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Subjects With MalodorHealthy ControlTotal
<=18 years000
Between 18 and 65 years172138
>=65 years011
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Subjects With MalodorHealthy ControlTotal
Female12820
Male51419
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Subjects With MalodorHealthy ControlTotal
Count of participants——0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Subjects With MalodorHealthy ControlTotal
Canada172239
Metabolites measured in urine samples
Metabolites measured in urine samples(Participants)Subjects With MalodorHealthy ControlTotal
Count of participants152237
08

Study locations

2 sites
  • MeBO Research
    Miami, Florida 33175, United States
  • The Metabolomics Innovation Centre
    Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Emwas AH, Roy R, McKay RT, Ryan D, Brennan L, Tenori L, Luchinat C, Gao X, Zeri AC, Gowda GA, Raftery D, Steinbeck C, Salek RM, Wishart DS. Recommendations and Standardization of Biomarker Quantification Using NMR-Based Metabolomics with Particular Focus on Urinary Analysis. J Proteome Res. 2016 Feb 5;15(2):360-73. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00885. Epub 2016 Jan 20. PubMed 26745651 ↗
  • I.S. Gabashvili. Identifying subtypes of a stigmatized medical condition medRxiv 19005223; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/19005223

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — to prevent risks of re-identification.

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Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Feb 2016 to primary completion in Aug 2017, 18 months.

Results were first posted in Oct 2020, 3 years 1 month after primary completion.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Feb 3, 2016
First posted
Feb 17, 2016
StartActual
Feb 2016
Primary completionActual
Aug 30, 2017
CompletionActual
May 2018
Results first posted
Oct 23, 2020
Last update
Oct 23, 2020
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 23, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02683876
Lead sponsor
Mebo Research, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 17, 2016
Start date
Feb 2016
Primary completion
Aug 30, 2017
Completion
May 2018
Results posted
Oct 23, 2020
Last update
Oct 23, 2020

Study contacts

David Wishart, PhD
principal investigator · The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC)
Irene Gabashvili, PhD
principal investigator · MeBo Research

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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