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

NCT ID: NCT06015490

Last Updated: 2025-09-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 7 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-07-22

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.

Detailed Description

Prior studies in humans indicate that while energy expenditure response is similar after consumption of equal amounts of fructose, glucose, and sucrose (a dimer of glucose + fructose), carbohydrate oxidation and blood glucose responses differ. Elevated carbohydrate oxidation responses appear to be driven by the presence of fructose, and elevated blood glucose responses appear to be driven by the presence of glucose. Prior work also suggests that post-ingestive signals of glucose availability, measure specifically as blood glucose levels, intestinal glucose transporter activity, and carbohydrate oxidation rate, are all associated with elevated brain response to calorie-predictive flavor cues and reward learning of these flavor cues. However, in animal models, glucose has been shown to repeatedly and reliably condition these calorie-predictive learning responses, but fructose does not. Human work has indicated that oxidation of glucose is critical for these responses. Thus, it is unclear what roles fructose and glucose each play in conditioning reward responses and flavor-calorie learning. We hypothesize that fructose plays a synergistic role in enhancing flavor-calorie learning without itself conditioning the reward response.

Conditions

Food Preferences; Appetitive Behavior

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Sucrose, then Glucose, then Fructose

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sucrose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Sucrose, then Fructose, then Glucose

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sucrose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose, then Fructose, then Sucrose

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sucrose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose, then Sucrose, then Fructose

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sucrose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose, then Glucose, then Sucrose

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sucrose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose, then Sucrose, then Glucose

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sucrose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Glucose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Fructose drink

Intervention Type: 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.

Interventions

Sucrose drink

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.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Glucose drink

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.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Fructose drink

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.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Flavored beverage solution with 110 calories of sucrose; Flavored beverage solution with 110 calories of glucose; Flavored beverage solution with 110 calories of fructose

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. BMI between 18.5-25 kg/m2

2. Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study participation

3. Residing in the Roanoke area and/or willing/able to attend sessions at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) at Virginia Tech Carilion

4. Weigh at least 110 lbs

Exclusion Criteria

1. Current inhaled nicotine use

2. History of alcohol dependence.

3. Current or past diagnosis of cardiometabolic disease or problems, including diabetes, endocrine, heart, or thyroid problems, that may influence study outcomes

4. Hemoglobin A1C >5.7%

5. 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)

6. Active medical or neurologic disorder, including cardiometabolic conditions or gastrointestinal conditions that may influence study outcomes

7. Recent change in body weight (gain or loss of > 5 lbs within the past 3 months)

8. Current shift work (typical pattern of work/activity overnight)

9. Previous weight loss surgery

10. Adherence to a special diet within the past 3 months (e.g., low-carb or ketogenic diet, exclusion of food groups/specific macronutrients, intermittent fasting, etc.)

11. Allergy to any food or ingredient included in the study diets, meals, or beverages

12. Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study participation

13. Claustrophobia

14. Contraindications for MRI, including pacemaker, aneurysm clips, neurostimulators, cochlear or other implants, metal in eyes, regular work with steel, etc. (Note: This is an fMRI-specific exclusion criterion. Participants may be allowed to participate in all other study sessions and measures that do not involve fMRI.)

15. Contraindications for bioelectrical impedance analysis, specifically implanted devices

16. Use of substances (or combinations of substances) in doses and frequencies that could influence neural outcomes of study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Alexandra DiFeliceantonio

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion

Roanoke, Virginia, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

#23-297

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id