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Biomarkers from urine and saliva are provided, assessing energy expenditure and dietary intake.

DLW Energy Expenditure

Doubly Labeled Water (DLW) provides an assessment of a participant’s total energy expenditure (TEE).

TEE is assessed by lab analysis of urine collected at several time points, looking for rates of elimination of two heavy atoms, deuterium and oxygen-18. After a loading dose of doubly labeled water (a mixture of deuterium and oxygen-18), deuterium is eliminated from the body as water and oxygen-18 as both water and carbon dioxide. The difference between the elimination rates provides a measure of carbon dioxide production. Carbon dioxide is the end product of energy metabolism and so provides a measure of energy expenditure.

The DLW measurement protocol involves the administration of the labeled water and collection of urine specimens on two days separated by two weeks. Participants consume dosing water at a clinic visit and provide 1 pre- and 3 post-dose urine samples. They are provided with materials to collect 2 additional urine samples at home on the day two weeks after the clinic visit.

The DLW protocol was initiated in the Study Center (at Clinic Visit 1 for Groups 1 and 3, and at Clinic Visit 2 for Groups 2 and 4). For a subsample of participants, the protocol was repeated at the Study Center approximately 6 months after the initial clinic visit (i.e., at Clinic Visit 2 for subsample participants in Groups 1 and 3 and at Clinic Visit 3 for subsample participants in Groups 2 and 4).

Click here for data dictionaries and formats for the DLW Energy Expenditure files. Datasets can be obtained by submitting a request.

Summary Available Data
  • A set of urine samples, with a small subsample providing a second set 6 months later
  • ~750 participants have DLW results (38 have two)
  • DLW summary results: TEE, dosing dates and other information from the lab