Clinical Research Directory

The Prevalance of Malnutrition and Its Association With Disability in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

This prospective observational study aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and to evaluate its association with disability. Nutritional status will be assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, and body composition will be evaluated with bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometric measurements. The study will also assess urinary incontinence, depression, and anger-related features, and compare the findings with those of healthy controls.

Partial Enteral Nutrition to Prevent Weight Loss and Sarcopenia in IBD Patients at Nutritional Risk - SIMBA

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized two-arm interventional nutritional study evaluating the effects of partial enteral nutrition (LH VIOLA) in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at risk of malnutrition. A total of 146 patients (73 per arm) will be enrolled across 4 centers. IBD, including Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, is associated with malabsorption, weight loss, sarcopenia, and malnutrition, which negatively impact quality of life and treatment outcomes. Nutritional assessment using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) will identify patients at risk. Participants will be randomized to receive either nutritional counseling alone or counseling plus oral LH VIOLA supplementation (≥412 kcal/day) for 16 weeks. The primary objective is to evaluate maintenance or recovery of body weight at 16 weeks. Secondary objectives include assessment of weight at 24 weeks, muscle strength (handgrip), body composition and metabolic parameters (BIA/BIVA, vitamin B12/D, pre-albumin), quality of life (SF-12), economic impact, adherence, gastrointestinal tolerability, and reduction in malnutrition risk (MUST score). The study duration per patient is 24 weeks (16 weeks of intervention plus 8 weeks follow-up), with a total study duration of 18 months. The sample size is powered to detect an increase from 40% to 65% in patients achieving weight maintenance or gain at 16 weeks, accounting for a 15% dropout rate.

Long-term Muscle Synthetic Effects of Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

This study examines the effects of intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) on muscle growth and blood pressure in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Mother Screening for Relapse Using Mid-upper Arm Circumference Among Children Recovered From Severe Acute Malnutrition (Full Scale Trial)

A 1:1:1 individually randomized unmasked controlled trial is proposed in which caregivers will be trained to screen their children who have recovered from an episode of SAM (severe acute malnutrition) using MUAC (mid-upper arm circumference) tapes. One arm will include caregiver screening with a mid-upper arm circumference tape and usual monthly follow-up schedule for the first 3 months post enrollment and a final follow-up at 6 months. Another arm will include caregiver screening with a mid-upper arm circumference tape and a reduced follow-up schedule for one visit at 3 months and a final visit at 6 months. The third arm will adhere to the current standard of care, which is no caregiver training to conduct mid-upper arm circumference screenings and monthly clinic-based follow-up appointments for 3 months with a final visit at 6 months post enrollment. Children aged 6-54 months with a documented recovery from uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition that was managed in a participating outpatient nutritional program and their caregivers will be eligible for inclusion in the trial. Caregivers will be trained to screen their children weekly for 6 months following discharge from the nutritional program and will be counseled to bring their child back to the nutritional program should their mid-upper arm circumference value fall in the red zone of the mid-upper arm circumference tape (\< 11.5 cm). All children will be seen at 3 and 6 months for the primary outcome assessment. By conducting this study, our primary goal is to determine if training caregivers to screen their children for relapse to MAM (moderate acute malnutrition) or SAM (severe acute malnutrition) using mid-upper arm circumference tapes following recovery from SAM (severe acute malnutrition) will reduce the risk of relapse. An additional aim is to assess the level of acceptability of caregivers screening children for malnutrition using mid-upper arm circumference tapes from both a clinic and caregiver perspective.

Short-Term Nutritional Enhancement Combined With Health Education in Postoperative Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This clinical study aims to evaluate whether short-term personalized nutritional support, when combined with structured health education, can improve nutritional status, quality of life, and clinical outcomes in patients who have undergone surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and many patients experience malnutrition and poor physical condition during treatment, which can negatively affect recovery and long-term survival. In this multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial, approximately 360 postoperative CRC patients will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of four groups: (A) nutritional enhancement combined with health education, (B) health education alone, (C) nutritional enhancement alone, or (D) standard care (control group). Nutritional support will include individualized diet counseling and oral nutritional supplements tailored to each patient's needs. Health education will be delivered using an "Internet Plus" approach, including weekly educational videos and expert consultations focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. The primary objectives are to determine whether these interventions can improve patients' short-term nutritional status and quality of life. Secondary outcomes include the impact of interventions on long-term survival, treatment-related side effects, patient adherence to nutrition recommendations, and psychological well-being. This study will also investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the clinical effects by analyzing changes in the gut microbiome, blood-based metabolic profiles, and immune responses. Blood, stool, and tumor tissue samples will be collected and analyzed using advanced techniques, including untargeted metabolomics, metagenomics, and single-cell sequencing. This trial is designed to provide evidence for the integration of nutritional strategies into routine cancer care, and to guide the development of more personalized, effective nutrition-based therapies for colorectal cancer patients. Participants will be followed for up to annually up to 5 years to evaluate both clinical outcomes and biological markers of response.

Nutritional Intake in Patients on Noninvasive Ventilation: a Prospective Observational Study

The primary objective is to quantify the caloric and protein intake in adult participants with acute respiratory failure who start a noninvasive ventilation treatment. The main question is: \- Are participants meeting their caloric and protein target during noninvasive ventilation treatment? Participants will complete a five-day food diary collection starting from the initiation of noninvasive ventilation treatment.

Screening for Malnutrition in Obese Patients

More than half of the Dutch population is overweight or obese, which is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 and worse outcomes during a COVID-19 infection. In addition, malnutrition and loss of muscle mass are often reported with COVID-19, as well as with cancer and other diseases. Malnutrition and overweight or obesity can coexist, even within the same individual. It is still unclear which mechanisms contribute to the worse outcomes of COVID-19 and other diseases in case of overweight, malnutrition, and a combination of both. The aim of this study is to identify which parameters are associated with worse disease outcomes through literature research and database research (COVID-19 and cancer, more than 150.000 participants). In addition, a clinical study will be conducted aiming to develop a simple screening tool for the recognition of the coexistence of malnutrition and overweight or obesity in clinical practice.