Reducing Free Sugar Intakes: A Role for Sweet Taste

NCT05684757 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: AppletonRFS2022
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomised controlled trial aims to assess the effects of three different types of dietary advice for reducing free sugar intakes, on intakes of free sugar, in a sample of the UK population.

Conditions

Dietary Behaviour

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Free sugar intakes

  Percentage energy intake from free sugars, assessed using diet diaries

  Baseline to week 12

• Adherence

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

  Baseline to week 12

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Dietary Intakes

  Baseline to week 12

• Body weight

  Baseline to week 12

• BMI

  Baseline to week 12

• Waist circumference

  Baseline to week 12

• Body fat percentage

  Baseline to week 12

Study Arms (3)

Dietary Advice: Sweet Taste

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that remain high in sweet taste, eg. fruit, low-calorie sweetened foods and drinks. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope.

Behavioral: Dietary Advice

Dietary Advice: Taste

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that remain high in taste, eg. nuts, foods and drinks flavoured with herbs and spices. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope.

Behavioral: Dietary Advice

Dietary Advice: No taste

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that are low in taste, eg. foods and drinks that are plain-flavoured, wholegrains. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope.

Behavioral: Dietary Advice

Interventions

Dietary Advice BEHAVIORAL

Dietary Advice

Dietary Advice: No taste; Dietary Advice: Sweet Taste; Dietary Advice: Taste

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;
• residing in the South of England, and able to attend Bournemouth University for testing.

You may not qualify if:

• individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• underweight (BMI \<18.5);
• 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;
• have pre-existing medical conditions affecting swallow ability, taste and smell perception;
• currently following a specific dietary programme (e.g.: Slimming World);
• current smokers or have smoked within 3 months of the study start date.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bournemouth University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bournemouth University

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

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Nutrition Assessment

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Epidemiologic Measurements; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Officials

• Katherine M Appleton

  Bournemouth University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Investigators, outcomes assessors and analysts will be masked. Masking of participants is not possible.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 3, 2023
• First Posted: January 13, 2023
• Study Start: March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 22, 2023
• Study Completion: July 31, 2025
• Last Updated: May 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

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

Locations

GB (1)