ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT06298292ZeroMinisMRUpdated Mar 7, 2024

Acceptability/Tolerance of Protein Substitutes in Tablet Form for the Dietary Management of Rare Aminoacidopathies

An observational study in Tyrosinemia, Type I, Tyrosinemia, Type II and Tyrosinemia, Type III, sponsored by metaX Institut fuer Diatetik GmbH. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 7 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-03-07.

Sponsored by metaX Institut fuer Diatetik GmbH · Observational

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Mar 2026, 7 months ago, but the record still lists the study as not yet recruiting.
Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
15
Ages
7 Years to 18 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this prospective, observational study is to evaluate the tolerability and acceptability of Zero minis, a range of protein substitute tablets for use in the dietary management of children with either TYROSINAEMIA Type I, II, III or ALKAPTONURIA, HOMOCYSTINURIA, or MAPLE SYRUP URINE DISEASE (MSUD) over the age of 7 years.

Read the detailed description

The principle treatment for children with inborn amino acid disorders is a strict low protein diet. Part of this treatment requires the administration of a protein substitute in order to meet basic protein requirements for normal growth and development. Several brands of protein substitutes for inborn amino acid disorders are already available in various presentations. However, compliance with taking protein substitutes continues to be a challenge. As a low protein diet is usually recommended for life, long term compliance is always a major concern. As a result, improving the choice in terms of product type may aid compliance.

Zero minis are a range of protein substitute tablets specifically designed for use in the dietary management of rare amino acid disorders like Tyrosinaemia type I, II, III or Alkaptonuria, Homocystinuria, and MSUD in children from ≥3 years of age onwards. Zero minis are concentrated protein substitutes containing a mixture of pure amino acids (except the amino acid(s) which can´t be metabolized) enriched with vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It is anticipated that they will be a suitable alternative choice for patients with rare metabolic disorders including: tyrosinaemia type I, II, III or alkaptonuria, homocystinuria, or MSUD, broadening the variety of protein substitutes they can choose from in order to suit their lifestyle and preferences.

This is a prospective, multicentre, observational tolerance study with 15 children with rare metabolic disorders. Subjects who are currently taking a protein substitute for the dietary management of either tyrosinaemia type I, II, III or alkaptonuria, homocystinuria, or MSUD, will be recruited for a 7-day trial taking the new ready-to-use protein substitute tablets to evaluate the tolerability and acceptability of the study products. Subjects will replace some or all of their usual protein substitute with the new product suitable for their diagnosed rare metabolic disease.

During the 7-day trial subjects or caregivers will be asked to complete a daily questionnaire recording information on:

  • Usage and compliance
  • Ease of use and any issues with administration
  • Any gastro-intestinal side-effects.

A questionnaire will also be completed at the beginning and end of the study that will consider perceptions about taste, appearance, smell, presentation and packaging of each product; ease of administration; how it is taken; and any other problems or symptoms.

The amount of tablets prescribed will be calculated to provide the same amount of protein as their usual protein substitute.

Subjects will continue to have weekly blood tests as is routine in rare metabolic disorders. The results whilst on the study product will be compared with results whilst on their usual protein substitute.

15 children out of a patient pool with tyrosinaemia type I, II, III or alkaptonuria, homocystinuria, or MSUD will be recruited. When an appropriate subject has been identified, a study information sheet will be sent to the subject or parents/caregivers. They will be invited to request further information about the study if they wish by contacting the Lead Dietitian.

Recruitment of each patient will be by written informed consent, which will be completed by the parents/primary caregivers and taken by the Lead Dietitian. Children will also complete an assent/consent form and will receive an information sheet, if considered appropriate for their level of understanding.

02

Conditions studied

  • Tyrosinemia, Type I
  • Tyrosinemia, Type II
  • Tyrosinemia, Type III
  • Alkaptonuria
  • Homocystine; Metabolic Disorder
  • MSUD (Maple Syrup Urine Disease)
03

In context

Tyrosinemias

20 studies on the registry are indexed under Tyrosinemias; 3 are open to participants now.

Browse Tyrosinemias studies →

Lead sponsor

metaX Institut fuer Diatetik GmbH is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
7 Years to 18 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

15 children out of a patient pool with proven tyrosinaemia type I, II, III or alkaptonuria, homocystinuria, or MSUD will be recruited from two specialist metabolic centres.

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

  • Diagnosis of Tyrosinaemia type I, II III or Alkaptonuria requiring a tyrosine- and phenylalanine-free protein substitute.
  • Diagnosis of Homocystinuria requiring a methionine-free, cystine-enriched protein substitute.
  • Diagnosis of MSUD requiring a valine-, leucine- and isoleucine-free protein substitute.
  • Subjects who are already taking a protein substitute for one of the specified rare metabolic disorders and are willing to try the study product for 7 days.
  • Children aged 7 years and over.
  • Written obtained from parental caregiver.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of serious concurrent illness
  • Lead Dietitian's uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the patient to comply with the protocol requirements
  • Participation in any other studies involving or marketed products concomitantly or within two weeks prior to entry into the study.
  • Any children having taken antibiotics over the previous 2 weeks leading up to the study.
  • Children less than 7 years of age.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
15 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • ZeroTP minis

    Intervention: Tyrosine-free and Phenylalanine-free protein substitute in tablet form. Subjects who currently take a protein substitute for the dietary management of either tyrosinaemia I, II, III or alkaptonuria will be recruited. Subjects will take the study product for 7 days. Subjects will replace some or their entire usual protein substitute with the new product. The amount of tablets prescribed will be calculated to provide the same amount of protein as their usual protein substitute.

    Dietary Supplement: Zero minis (range of protein substitutes in tablet form)

  • ZeroMet minis

    Intervention: Methionine-free and Cystine-enriched protein substitute in tablet form. Subjects who currently take a protein substitute for the dietary management of homocystinuria will be recruited. Subjects will take the study product for 7 days. Subjects will replace some or their entire usual protein substitute with the new product. The amount of tablets prescribed will be calculated to provide the same amount of protein as their usual protein substitute.

    Dietary Supplement: Zero minis (range of protein substitutes in tablet form)

  • ZeroVIL minis

    Intervention: Valine-, Isoleucine- and Leucine-free protein substitute in tablet form. Subjects who currently take a protein substitute for the dietary management of MSUD will be recruited. Subjects will take the study product for 7 days. Subjects will replace some or their entire usual protein substitute with the new product. The amount of tablets prescribed will be calculated to provide the same amount of protein as their usual protein substitute.

    Dietary Supplement: Zero minis (range of protein substitutes in tablet form)

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementZero minis (range of protein substitutes in tablet form)

    Intervention: range of protein substitute tablets. Subjects who currently take a protein substitute for the dietary management of either tyrosinaemias or alkaptonuria, homocystinuria, or MSUD will be recruited. Subjects will take the study product for 7 days. Daily questionnaires will be completed (ease of preparation,administration; any problems or gastrointestinal effects). Subjects will replace some or their entire usual protein substitute with the new product suitable for their diagnosed rare metabolic disease. The amount of tablets prescribed will be calculated to provide the same amount of protein as their usual protein substitute. Additional questions at the beginning and end of the study will record information on organoleptic properties, presentation and packaging of the product. Routine weekly blood samples will be collected and analysed for amino acids typically for the metabolic control of the individual specified metabolic disorders as is usual clinical practice.

    Also known as: ZeroTP minis, ZeroMet minis, ZeroVIL minis

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Daily compliance

    Compliance, with currently prescribed protein substitute will be assessed at the beginning of the 7-days trial. Usage and compliance with the study product will subsequently assessed daily from days 1-7 using standardised questionnaires, where patients document the the amount of consumed study product vs the prescribed doses.

    Time frame: 7 days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Treatment-Emergent tolerability

    Gastro-intestinal side effects (including diarrhoea, constipation, bloating or abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, burping, flatulence or regurgitation and abdominal discomfort or pain) will be assessed daily via questionnaire using the scale (none today, mild, moderate or severe / really troublesome).

    Time frame: 7 days

  2. Patient Acceptability

    Acceptability (ease of use and palatability) will be assessed via questionnaire daily during the study period and at the end of the study via questionnaire .

    Time frame: 7 days

  3. Metabolic control

    Weekly routine blood samples will be collected and analysed for specific amino acids typically for the metabolic control of the individual specified metabolic disorders as is usual clinical practice.

    Time frame: 7 days

  4. Incidence of study product emergent events.

    All adverse events will be recorded throughout the study (as and when they occur). There is no specific time frame as the frequency of adverse events can not be predicted. But as the study product is already commercially available occurence of any adverse event is unlikely.

    Time frame: 7 days

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — No IPD will be shared with other researchers.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Apr 2024; primary completion for Mar 2026, 23 months later.

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

Registered
Mar 1, 2024
First posted
Mar 7, 2024
StartEst.
Apr 1, 2024
Primary completionEst.
Mar 31, 2026
CompletionEst.
Jun 30, 2026
Last update
Mar 7, 2024
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 Mar 7, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06298292
Lead sponsor
metaX Institut fuer Diatetik GmbH
Collaborators
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 7, 2024
Start date
Apr 1, 2024 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 31, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 30, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 7, 2024

Study contacts

Bernhard Hoffmann, PhD
Contact
behoffmann@metax.org
+49 6031 166 72 71
Yvonne Mücke, PhD
Contact
yvonne.muecke@metax.org
+49 6031 166 72 79
Anita MacDonald, Professor
principal investigator · Birmingham Children´s Hospital

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Mar 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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