The SAVOR Study: Appetite and Physiological Responses

NCT07636369 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-133
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study aims to identify key physiological factors that differentiate older adults with healthy appetites from those experiencing appetite decline. The investigators hypothesize that seniors experiencing appetite decline will exhibit distinct oro-sensory, gastrointestinal, and hormonal profiles compared to seniors with healthy appetites, suggesting underlying biological mechanisms contributing to reduced appetite.

Conditions

Anorexia of Aging; Malnutrition or Risk of Malnutrition

Keywords

appetite decline; elderly; anorexia of aging; malnutrition; Asian seniors; appetite regulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Ad Libitum Lunch

  Participants will be asked to eat as much of the stir-fried beehoon as they want until they are comfortably full, to measure the exact calorie intake by weighing the food before and after eating.

  Participants will be given 30 minutes to consume the meal until they are comfortably full, 180 minutes after the start of the intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Palatability questionnaire

  Administered after consuming test meal and after consuming the ad libitum meal.

• Appetite hormones

  Blood samples will be collected at timepoints (t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes)

• Subjective Appetite Questionnaire

  Measurement is taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 10, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes

• Gastric Ultrasound

  Measurements will be taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 15, 45, 105 and 165 minutes

• Stool collected using the OMNIgene and OMNImet

  Baseline stool sample will be collected once between screening and intervention day.

Other Outcomes (10)

• Health and Lifestyle questionnaire

  Baseline measurement that is completed during screening visit

• 3-day food record

  Administered between screening and actual test session, to be completed on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend.

• Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)

  Baseline measurement administered once during screening.

Study Arms (1)

Chicken porridge

EXPERIMENTAL

Rice congee with shredded chicken and vegetable oil

Other: Shredded Chicken Congee

Interventions

Shredded Chicken Congee OTHER

This is a mixed meal tolerance test intended to elicit gut hormone responses reflective of real-world dietary patterns.

Chicken porridge

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 74 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Postmenopausal female
• Aged 65-74 years
• Habitual breakfast consumer (consumes breakfast between 7am to 10am)
• Willingness to consume meals and follow intervention protocol
• English speaking

You may not qualify if:

• BMI ≥ 27.5
• Diagnosed with medical condition that may influence appetite or microbiome (e.g. diabetes, thyroid disorders, gastrointestinal diseases)
• Currently taking any medications or supplements that may influence appetite or the microbiome (e.g. probiotics, antibiotics, appetite stimulants/suppressants) one month prior to their first visit in consultation with study physician, PI and study team
• Following a special diet for weight management (e.g. low-calorie, low carbohydrate)
• History of bariatrics surgery
• Intentional attempt to change body weight or composition
• History of severe vasovagal syncope (blackouts or near faints) following blood draw
• Drug abuse within last 5 years
• Excessive alcoholic beverage consumption \> 2 servings per day (1 serving defined as 360 mL beer, 150 mL wine or 45 mL distilled spirits)
• Smoking (cigarette, e-cigarette, cigar, pipe, vape)
• Engaging in habitual vigorous physical activity (as defined by physical activity questionnaire-PAQ)
• Loose teeth or jaw pain
• Not missing \> 2 non-wisdom molars
• Involvement in other clinical studies that may influence the outcome of the study
• A study team member or their immediate family member

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation: lead

Study Sites (1)

Clinical Nutrition Research Centre

Singapore, Singapore

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Sturm K, MacIntosh CG, Parker BA, Wishart J, Horowitz M, Chapman IM. Appetite, food intake, and plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin, ghrelin, and other gastrointestinal hormones in undernourished older women and well-nourished young and older women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Aug;88(8):3747-55. doi: 10.1210/jc.2002-021656.

  PMID: 12915664 BACKGROUND

• Dagbasi A, Warner J, Catterall V, Smith K, Crabtree DR, Carroll B, Frost G, Holliday A. Augmented gut hormone response to feeding in older adults exhibiting low appetite. Appetite. 2024 Oct 1;201:107415. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107415. Epub 2024 May 16.

  PMID: 38761969 BACKGROUND

• Atalayer D, Astbury NM. Anorexia of aging and gut hormones. Aging Dis. 2013 Oct 1;4(5):264-75. doi: 10.14336/AD.2013.0400264.

  PMID: 24124632 BACKGROUND

• Dagenais S, Fielding RA, Clark S, Cantu C, Prasad S, Groarke JD. Anorexia in Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries: A Claims-Based Analysis of Epidemiology and Mortality. J Nutr Health Aging. 2023;27(3):184-191. doi: 10.1007/s12603-023-1882-4.

  PMID: 36973924 BACKGROUND

• Morley JE. Peptides and aging: Their role in anorexia and memory. Peptides. 2015 Oct;72:112-8. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.04.007. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

  PMID: 25895851 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Malnutrition

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Officials

• Darel Toh, PhD

  Clinical Nutrition Research Centre

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Rina Quek, MSc

CONTACT

64074379; rina_quek@a-star.edu.sg

Ashley Yu, BSc

CONTACT

ashley_yu@a-star.edu.sg

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Scientist

Model Details: Single-arm intervention

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 20, 2026
• First Posted: June 9, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SG (1)