The Impact of the Physiological Response to Sugar on Brain Activity and Behavior

NCT06015490 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: #23-297
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 7
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot study is to test the feasibility of assessing how biological factors and chemical properties of sugars may influence metabolism and food reward in humans. The main questions it aims to answer are: • Can differences in appetitive responses and neural activations to sucrose (table sugar) and its chemical components (glucose and fructose) be measured and quantified? This study is a crossover design, meaning every participant will complete every condition. Participants will consume beverages containing sucrose, glucose, or fructose, which are each novelly flavored, 6 times within a week. During one of the consumption times, energy expenditure, carbohydrate oxidation, and blood glucose will be measured in the lab before and for 2 hours after consumption. After participants have consumed each condition, they will undergo a tasting task in the MRI scanner, neural responses to receipt of the beverages are measured.

Conditions

Food Preferences; Appetitive Behavior

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Preference- Subjective Liking Ratings for Each Beverage on a Scale

  Subjective ratings of liking of flavors used in the intervention will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. The generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale will be used. The scale is anchored by descriptors of "Most Disliked Sensation Imaginable" and "Most Liked Sensation Imaginable" at the lower and upper ends, respectively. The score is determined by the place on the scale participants select (range of scale is 0-100). An increase in score from baseline to post-intervention indicates an increase in liking.

  Immediately after informed consent and in the post-test session approximately 5 weeks later

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Post-Test Measure of Preference- Subjective Wanting Ratings for Each Beverage on a Scale

  At the end of study; approximately 5 weeks after first session

• Post-Test Measure of Preference - Wanting (ad Libitum Intake): The Amount Consumed of Each Beverage is Reported as the Outcome

  At the end of study; approximately 5 weeks after first session

• Post-Test Measure of Preference- Wanting (Forced Choice): Number of Participants Who Chose Each Indicated Beverage

  At the end of study; approximately 5 weeks after first session

• Blood Oxygen Level-dependent (BOLD) Response to Beverages

  At the end of study; approximately 5 weeks after first session

• Blood Glucose Response to Beverages

  Each week for 3 weeks during the study

Study Arms (6)

Sucrose, then Glucose, then Fructose

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a 110 kcal sucrose drink 6 times during 1 week. Then, they will consume a 110 kcal glucose drink 6 times during 1 week, and then, a 110 kcal fructose drink 6 times during 1 week.

Other: Sucrose drink; Other: Glucose drink; Other: Fructose drink

Sucrose, then Fructose, then Glucose

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a 110 kcal sucrose drink 6 times during 1 week. Then, they will consume a 110 kcal fructose drink 6 times during 1 week, and then, a 110 kcal glucose drink 6 times during 1 week.

Other: Sucrose drink; Other: Glucose drink; Other: Fructose drink

Glucose, then Fructose, then Sucrose

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a 110 kcal glucose drink 6 times during 1 week. Then, they will consume a 110 kcal fructose drink 6 times during 1 week, and then, a 110 kcal sucrose drink 6 times during 1 week.

Other: Sucrose drink; Other: Glucose drink; Other: Fructose drink

Glucose, then Sucrose, then Fructose

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a 110 kcal glucose drink 6 times during 1 week. Then, they will consume a 110 kcal sucrose drink 6 times during 1 week, and then, a 110 kcal fructose drink 6 times during 1 week.

Other: Sucrose drink; Other: Glucose drink; Other: Fructose drink

Fructose, then Glucose, then Sucrose

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a 110 kcal fructose drink 6 times during 1 week. Then, they will consume a 110 kcal glucose drink 6 times during 1 week, and then, a 110 kcal sucrose drink 6 times during 1 week.

Other: Sucrose drink; Other: Glucose drink; Other: Fructose drink

Fructose, then Sucrose, then Glucose

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a 110 kcal fructose drink 6 times during 1 week. Then, they will consume a 110 kcal sucrose drink 6 times during 1 week, and then, a 110 kcal glucose drink 6 times during 1 week.

Other: Sucrose drink; Other: Glucose drink; Other: Fructose drink

Interventions

Sucrose drink OTHER

Participants will consume flavored beverage solutions containing 110 calories of sucrose in 6 exposure sessions within 1 week. One exposure session will include pre- and post-consumption blood draws and indirect calorimetry measurements inside a metabolic chamber over a 2-hour period. The other 5 exposure sessions will occur at specified times outside the laboratory sessions. Subjective ratings of internal state (i.e., hunger, fullness, and thirst) will be collected throughout each exposure. Subjective ratings of liking and wanting of each beverage will also be assessed.

Also known as: Flavored beverage solution with 110 calories of sucrose

Fructose, then Glucose, then Sucrose; Fructose, then Sucrose, then Glucose; Glucose, then Fructose, then Sucrose; Glucose, then Sucrose, then Fructose; Sucrose, then Fructose, then Glucose; Sucrose, then Glucose, then Fructose

Glucose drink OTHER

Participants will consume flavored beverage solutions containing 110 calories of glucose in 6 exposure sessions within 1 week. One exposure session will include pre- and post-consumption blood draws and indirect calorimetry measurements inside a metabolic chamber over a 2-hour period. The other 5 exposure sessions will occur at specified times outside the laboratory sessions. Subjective ratings of internal state (i.e., hunger, fullness, and thirst) will be collected throughout each exposure. Subjective ratings of liking and wanting of each beverage will also be assessed.

Also known as: Flavored beverage solution with 110 calories of glucose

Fructose, then Glucose, then Sucrose; Fructose, then Sucrose, then Glucose; Glucose, then Fructose, then Sucrose; Glucose, then Sucrose, then Fructose; Sucrose, then Fructose, then Glucose; Sucrose, then Glucose, then Fructose

Fructose drink OTHER

Participants will consume flavored beverage solutions containing 110 calories of fructose in 6 exposure sessions within 1 week. One exposure session will include pre- and post-consumption blood draws and indirect calorimetry measurements inside a metabolic chamber over a 2-hour period. The other 5 exposure sessions will occur at specified times outside the laboratory sessions. Subjective ratings of internal state (i.e., hunger, fullness, and thirst) will be collected throughout each exposure. Subjective ratings of liking and wanting of each beverage will also be assessed.

Also known as: Flavored beverage solution with 110 calories of fructose

Fructose, then Glucose, then Sucrose; Fructose, then Sucrose, then Glucose; Glucose, then Fructose, then Sucrose; Glucose, then Sucrose, then Fructose; Sucrose, then Fructose, then Glucose; Sucrose, then Glucose, then Fructose

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• BMI between 18.5-25 kg/m2
• Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study participation
• Residing in the Roanoke area and/or willing/able to attend sessions at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) at Virginia Tech Carilion
• Weigh at least 110 lbs

You may not qualify if:

• Current inhaled nicotine use
• History of alcohol dependence.
• Current or past diagnosis of cardiometabolic disease or problems, including diabetes, endocrine, heart, or thyroid problems, that may influence study outcomes
• Hemoglobin A1C \>5.7%
• Taking medications known to influence study measures (including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), allergy, antidepressant, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, birth control, blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, thyroid, sleep, or weight loss medications)
• Active medical or neurologic disorder, including cardiometabolic conditions or gastrointestinal conditions that may influence study outcomes
• Recent change in body weight (gain or loss of \> 5 lbs within the past 3 months)
• Current shift work (typical pattern of work/activity overnight)
• Previous weight loss surgery
• Allergy to any food or ingredient included in the study diets, meals, or beverages
• Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study participation
• Claustrophobia
• Contraindications for bioelectrical impedance analysis, specifically implanted devices
• Use of substances (or combinations of substances) in doses and frequencies that could influence neural outcomes of study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion

Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Food Preferences; Appetitive Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding Behavior; Behavior; Behavior, Animal

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Alexandra DiFeliceantonio
• Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

dife@vt.edu

540-526-2285

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2023
• First Posted: August 29, 2023
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 22, 2024
• Study Completion: July 22, 2024
• Last Updated: September 11, 2025
• Results First Posted: September 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)