Dietary Recommendations for Reducing Free Sugar Intakes

NCT04816955 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: PhDBoxall
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 242
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomised controlled trial aims to assess the impacts of the current recommendations by Public Health England for reducing free sugar intakes, on total energy intakes of free sugar in a sample of the UK population.

Conditions

Dietary Recommendations

Keywords

free sugars; dietary intake; dietary recommendations

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Free Sugar Intakes

  Percentage energy intake from free sugars, assessed using diet diaries

  12 weeks from baseline

• Number of Participants Who Adhered to the Recommendations Provided

  Adherence to the recommendations provided, assessed using diet diaries and self-reported adherence

  12 weeks from baseline

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Dietary Intakes

  12 weeks from baseline

• BMI

  12 weeks from baseline

• Sweet Food Preferences

  12 weeks from baseline

• Sweet Food Choices

  12 weeks from baseline

• Sweet Food Attitudes

  12 weeks from baseline

Study Arms (4)

Nutrient-based recommendations

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will be given nutrient-based recommendations to reduce free sugar intakes.

Behavioral: Dietary recommendations

Nutrient- and food-based recommendations

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will be given nutrient- and food-based recommendations to reduce free sugar intakes.

Behavioral: Dietary recommendations

Nutrient- and food-based recommendations with food swaps

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will be given nutrient- and food-based recommendations and advice on food swaps to reduce free sugar intakes.

Behavioral: Dietary recommendations

Control

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will not be given any recommendations to reduce free sugar intakes.

Behavioral: Dietary recommendations

Interventions

Dietary recommendations BEHAVIORAL

Dietary recommendations, with increasing additional behavioural/practical advice or no dietary recommendations

Control; Nutrient- and food-based recommendations; Nutrient- and food-based recommendations with food swaps; Nutrient-based recommendations

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• aged 18-65 years;
• able to provide consent and complete all study materials;
• consuming \>5% of TEI from free sugars; and
• residing in the South of England.

You may not qualify if:

• individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• underweight (BMI \<18.5);
• have pre-existing medical conditions affecting swallow ability, taste and smell perception;
• currently or within 3 months of starting the study are following a specific dietary programme (e.g.: Slimming World);
• current smokers or have smoked within 3 months of the study start date;
• have pre-existing clinical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, eating disorders, Crohn's disease and other illness's leading to participants receiving external nutritional advice and dietary restrictions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bournemouth University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bournemouth University

Bournemouth, US and Canada Only, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom

Location

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr Katherine Appleton
• Organization: Bournemouth University

k.appleton@bournemouth.ac.uk

01202965985

Study Officials

• Katherine Appleton

  Bournemouth University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The investigator, all researchers and analysts will be blinded to treatment. Participants can not masked.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 17, 2021
• First Posted: March 25, 2021
• Study Start: May 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2022
• Study Completion: January 31, 2024
• Last Updated: June 10, 2025
• Results First Posted: June 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: On study completion

Locations

GB (1)