Liking Adaptation to Beverages With Varying Sweetness Levels After Prolonged Exposure

NCT ID: NCT04609657

Last Updated: 2022-03-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

168 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-11-10

Study Completion Date

2021-05-25

Brief Summary

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This is a double-blind, controlled, parallel, randomized sensory study. The study will consist of two cohorts; habitual regular full-calorie Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) consumers and habitual low-calorie CSD consumers. Each cohort will be randomized to one of 3 interventions for six months (24 weeks):

* Intervention 1: Control (full sweetness) beverage
* Intervention 2: Step-wise sweetness reduction series of beverages
* Intervention 3: Moderate sweetness (reduced sweetness) beverage

The primary outcome is to assess the perception changes in sweetness (magnitude scale) and sweetness liking (Likert scale) of a test product and a control product over a period of six months. The study endeavors to explore whether consumers of sweetened carbonated beverages can adapt liking to lower sweetness beverages after prolonged exposure of daily consumption of beverages with step-wise reduction of sweetness, or maintenance at reduced (moderate) sweetness.

Additional analysis will be to assess dietary compensation for sweetness in the step-wise and moderate reduction arms compared to the control arms (the full calorie and low calorie control beverages). Dietary analysis of calories and intakes of total sugar, added sugar, and servings of low-/non-calorie sweeteners will be assessed using a 3-day diet record pre-intervention and monthly for 6 months.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Sweetness Liking Adaptation

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
Same packaging for all (cans). Color and flavor matched.

Study Groups

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Control beverage for Habitual full-calorie CSD cohort, n=28

Full sweetness (sugar) for 6 months

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Intervention Type OTHER

Beverage

Control beverage for Habitual low-calorie CSD cohort, n=28

Full sweetness low calorie sweetener (LCS) with sweetness level matched to the full sweetness sugar control for 6 months

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Intervention Type OTHER

Beverage

Test beverage 1 for Habitual full-calorie CSD cohort, n=28

Reduced sweetness (moderate sugar level) for 6 months

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Intervention Type OTHER

Beverage

Test beverage 1 for Habitual low-calorie CSD cohort, n=28

Reduced sweetness low calorie sweetener (LCS) with sweetness level matched to the moderate sugar sweetness level for 6 months

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Intervention Type OTHER

Beverage

Test beverage 2 for Habitual full-calorie CSD cohort, n=28

Step-wise sweetness reduction over 6 months. Month 1 is the full sweetness sugar control, followed by monthly sweetness reduction. Remains at the reduced sweetness level (moderate sugar level) from months 4-6.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Intervention Type OTHER

Beverage

Test beverage 2 for Habitual low-calorie CSD cohort, n=28

Step-wise sweetness reduction over 6 months. Month 1 is the low calorie sweetener (LCS) sweetness equivalent of the full sweetness sugar control, followed by monthly LCS sweetness reduction (reductions equivalent to the corresponding sugar reduction arm sweetness levels). Remains at the reduced sweetness level (LCS equivalent of moderate sugar sweetness level) from months 4-6.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Intervention Type OTHER

Beverage

Interventions

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Flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD)

Beverage

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Healthy adults 25-55 years of age
2. Habitually consume regular or diet CSD
3. Willing and able to consume at least one orange CSD beverage daily for a total of 6 months and abstain from other sweetened beverages
4. Willing and able to complete questionnaires regarding dietary intake and sensory perception
5. Has internet access via computer, phone or other device and is able to maintain internet access throughout the trial in order to complete daily online questionnaires
6. Participant is judged to be in good health based on a verbal health query and the general health and lifestyle questionnaire
7. Participant is willing to maintain his or her habitual diet, smoking habits and physical activity patterns, including habitual use of study approved medications and/or dietary supplements throughout the study period
8. Participant understands the study procedures and signs forms providing informed consent to participate in the study and authorization for release of relevant protected health information to the study Investigators

Exclusion Criteria

1. Regular smoker (more than 1 cigarette per week)
2. History or presence of type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
3. Extreme dietary habits, including but not limited to vegetarian diets and intentional consumption of a high fiber diet, gluten-free, low-carb, vegan, ketogenic, and intermittent fasting (defined as intentional fasting for longer than 16 hours or alternate day fasting)
4. Extreme changes to physical activity
5. Female who is pregnant, planning to be pregnant during the study period, lactating, or is of childbearing potential and is unwilling to commit to the use of a medically approved form of contraception throughout the study period
6. Recent history (within 12 months of screening; Visit 1) of alcohol or substance abuse. Alcohol abuse is defined as \>14 drinks per week (1 drink = 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1½ oz distilled spirits)
7. Individual has a condition the Clinical Investigator believes would interfere with his or her ability to provide informed consent, comply with the study protocol, or which might confound the interpretation of the study results or put the participant at undue risk
8. Dislike of citrus flavored CSDs
9. Participation in another clinical trial within past 30 days
10. People who have phenylketonuria (low calorie sweetened beverages contain aspartame)
Minimum Eligible Age

25 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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PepsiCo Global R&D

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Kathleen Kelley, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Biofortis Innovation Services

Locations

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BioFortis Innovation Services

Addison, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Mah E, Kamil A, Blonquist TM, Rehm CD, Qu S, Stern P, Wilson AR. Change in liking following reduction in sweetness level of carbonated beverages: a randomized controlled parallel trial. Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 5;14(1):26742. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77529-w.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39500957 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PEP-2002

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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