An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Valine and EEA in Chronic Kidney Disease and Sarcopenia, sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 45 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-02.
Sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
Sarcopenia, or loss of muscle and strength is common in patients with poor kidney function. Although a high protein diet is generally recommended for sarcopenia, patients with poor kidney function are advised to follow a low-protein diet. In this study, we will evaluate the practicality and potential benefits of two different amino acids (molecules that form proteins) in improving sarcopenia in patients with advanced kidney disease.
The study aims to improve muscle mass and strength. All study procedures are free of cost and do not require significant time commitment. You will have time to ask questions and discuss the study with your family, primary care physician, and your kidney doctor to make the decision if this is right study for you to participate in.
The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, metabolic effects, and potential therapeutic potential of isolated valine or EAA in patients with CKD stage 5.
3,090 studies on the registry are indexed under Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; 698 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 73 across 2,157 interventional studies indexed under Renal Insufficiency, Chronic.
Browse Renal Insufficiency, Chronic studies →The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is the lead sponsor of 445 studies on the registry; 89 are open to participants now.
Of its 65 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 35 (54%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
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.
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.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HbA1c
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hemoglobin (Hb)
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Daily oral consumption of 2 g valine, divided into two meals (1 g per meal, one packet), each equivalent to approximately 0.8 g of protein.
Drug: Valine
Daily oral consumption of 20 g essential amino acids (EAA), divided into two meals (10 g per meal, one packet), each equivalent to 5 g of protein and 3.14 g of branched chain amino acids (BCAA).
Drug: EEA
A medical food intended for use under medical supervision
Also known as: Valine Amino Acid Supplement
A medical food intended for use under medical supervision
Also known as: Essential Amino Acid Supplement
Skeletal muscle strength (handgrip strength test)
Change from baseline handgrip strength test value (kg) measured using a hand dynamometer to the end of each 6-Week intervention
Time frame: Baseline to 14 weeks
Muscle mass
Change from baseline muscle mass using a bioelectrical impedance analysis to the end of each 6-Week intervention
Time frame: Baseline to 14 weeks
Physical performance (4-meter Walk Gait Speed Test or 4MWT)
Change from baseline 4MWT (measured in second) to the end of each 6-Week intervention
Time frame: Baseline to 14 weeks
Incidence of patient-reported symptoms
Change from baseline (number of symptoms) to the end of each 6-Week intervention
Time frame: Baseline to 14 weeks
Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) Anorexia subscale
Change from baseline scores (ranging from 0-48, with 0 being the worst possible score) to the end of each 6-Week intervention
Time frame: Baseline to 14 weeks
Serum Cystatin C-based eGFR
Change from baseline serum Cystatin C levels (mg/L) to the end of each 6-Week intervention
Time frame: Baseline to 14 weeks
Plan to share: Yes — This study will comply with the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical Trial Information and the Clinical Trials Registration and Results Information Submission rule. As such, this trial will be registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, and results information from this trial will be submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov. In addition, every attempt will be made to publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan
Time frame: Data may be available beginning 1 year after the end of the trial and publication of the primary outcomes, and will be available for 24 months.
Access criteria: Data may be available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposals. Proposals should be directed to the principal investigator. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Valine
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic →
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio →