WHNRC (Western Human Nutrition Research Center) Honey Study

NCT ID: NCT06107231

Last Updated: 2025-11-24

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

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-01-16

Study Completion Date

2026-10-30

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this research is to compare two snacks, one with honey and nuts and the other with sugar and nuts, on glucose levels before and after eating these snacks.

The investigators hypothesize that honey and nuts will have an additive effect on the reduction of postprandial glucose response. The investigators further hypothesize that consumption of honey paired with nuts will retain the benefit of sugar consumption in satiety and reduction of metabolic stress.

Detailed Description

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Consuming sugar creates a feeling of satiation, and may buffer metabolic stress. However, prolonged postprandial hyperglycemia has been identified as a potential risk factor in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nuts, which are recommended to be consumed as part of a Mediterranean diet, up to 2 servings per day, have been shown to dramatically reduce postprandial glucose response to carbohydrates. Additionally, honey, which is typically used as an added sugar within a Mediterranean diet pattern, has a lower glycemic index than table sugar and may result in a reduced postprandial glucose response relative to other nutritive sweeteners. However, it is not yet known whether honey can work additively with nuts to further reduce postprandial glucose response over the reduction caused by nuts alone.

Honey has been shown to produce equivalent or greater satiety to regular table sugar and there is some indication that honey can improve immediate/working memory. Therefore, combined consumption of honey and nuts may offer a way to maximize the benefits of carbohydrate consumption on satiety and metabolic stress reduction while minimizing its negative effects on metabolism. However, it is not yet known whether sugars contained in the more complex food matrix of honey, consumed together with a food like nuts can impact satiety and metabolic stress in the way that has been observed for sugar.

Conditions

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Postprandial Glycemia Metabolic Stress Cognitive Change Satisfaction, Personal

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Honey alone and honey with almonds, then sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds

Participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Honey

Intervention Type OTHER

Honey representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams)

Sucrose

Intervention Type OTHER

Sucrose representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams)

Honey plus almonds

Intervention Type OTHER

Honey representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams) plus 1 ounce almonds (28 grams)

Sucrose plus almonds

Intervention Type OTHER

Sucrose representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams) plus 1 ounce almonds (28 grams)

Sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds, then honey alone and honey with almonds

Participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Honey

Intervention Type OTHER

Honey representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams)

Sucrose

Intervention Type OTHER

Sucrose representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams)

Honey plus almonds

Intervention Type OTHER

Honey representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams) plus 1 ounce almonds (28 grams)

Sucrose plus almonds

Intervention Type OTHER

Sucrose representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams) plus 1 ounce almonds (28 grams)

Interventions

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Honey

Honey representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams)

Intervention Type OTHER

Sucrose

Sucrose representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams)

Intervention Type OTHER

Honey plus almonds

Honey representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams) plus 1 ounce almonds (28 grams)

Intervention Type OTHER

Sucrose plus almonds

Sucrose representing 7% of total energy (kilocalorie) needs (40-70 grams) plus 1 ounce almonds (28 grams)

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Women must be pre-menopausal
* Willing to consume snacks that contain honey, table sugar, and tree nuts

Exclusion Criteria

* Body Mass Index (BMI) \<18.5 or \>40
* Allergies to tree nuts
* Current medical diagnoses of chronic diseases including cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, renal diseases, cancer, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, thyroid disease requiring medication, inflammatory or irritable bowel diseases, or those with recent major surgeries
* No individuals who fall in to the vulnerable categories of adults including those unable to consent, pregnant women, children, or prisoners will be eligible for this study
* Routinely taking medications known to affect glucose response.
* Caffeine and alcohol use will not be excluded, but should be carefully reported by each subject.

Regarding female candidates:

* Post-menopausal
* Women who have been pregnant or nursing within the last 6 months or plan to become pregnant during the trial will be ineligible
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Honey Board

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

USDA, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Mary Kable, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Nancy Keim, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Kevin Laugero, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Locations

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USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Davis, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Gourdomichali T, Papakonstantinou E. Short-term effects of six Greek honey varieties on glycemic response: a randomized clinical trial in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2018 Dec;72(12):1709-1716. doi: 10.1038/s41430-018-0160-8. Epub 2018 Apr 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29686412 (View on PubMed)

Othman Z, Shafin N, Zakaria R, Hussain NH, Mohammad WM. Improvement in immediate memory after 16 weeks of tualang honey (Agro Mas) supplement in healthy postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2011 Nov;18(11):1219-24. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e31821e2044.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21926932 (View on PubMed)

Anderson GH, Woodend D. Consumption of sugars and the regulation of short-term satiety and food intake. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Oct;78(4):843S-849S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/78.4.843S.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14522748 (View on PubMed)

Tryon MS, Stanhope KL, Epel ES, Mason AE, Brown R, Medici V, Havel PJ, Laugero KD. Excessive Sugar Consumption May Be a Difficult Habit to Break: A View From the Brain and Body. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jun;100(6):2239-47. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-4353. Epub 2015 Apr 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25879513 (View on PubMed)

Virani SS, Alonso A, Benjamin EJ, Bittencourt MS, Callaway CW, Carson AP, Chamberlain AM, Chang AR, Cheng S, Delling FN, Djousse L, Elkind MSV, Ferguson JF, Fornage M, Khan SS, Kissela BM, Knutson KL, Kwan TW, Lackland DT, Lewis TT, Lichtman JH, Longenecker CT, Loop MS, Lutsey PL, Martin SS, Matsushita K, Moran AE, Mussolino ME, Perak AM, Rosamond WD, Roth GA, Sampson UKA, Satou GM, Schroeder EB, Shah SH, Shay CM, Spartano NL, Stokes A, Tirschwell DL, VanWagner LB, Tsao CW; American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2020 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020 Mar 3;141(9):e139-e596. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000757. Epub 2020 Jan 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31992061 (View on PubMed)

Gallwitz B. Implications of postprandial glucose and weight control in people with type 2 diabetes: understanding and implementing the International Diabetes Federation guidelines. Diabetes Care. 2009 Nov;32 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S322-5. doi: 10.2337/dc09-S331. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19875573 (View on PubMed)

Bach-Faig A, Berry EM, Lairon D, Reguant J, Trichopoulou A, Dernini S, Medina FX, Battino M, Belahsen R, Miranda G, Serra-Majem L; Mediterranean Diet Foundation Expert Group. Mediterranean diet pyramid today. Science and cultural updates. Public Health Nutr. 2011 Dec;14(12A):2274-84. doi: 10.1017/S1368980011002515.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22166184 (View on PubMed)

Josse AR, Kendall CW, Augustin LS, Ellis PR, Jenkins DJ. Almonds and postprandial glycemia--a dose-response study. Metabolism. 2007 Mar;56(3):400-4. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2006.10.024.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17292730 (View on PubMed)

Larson-Meyer DE, Willis KS, Willis LM, Austin KJ, Hart AM, Breton AB, Alexander BM. Effect of honey versus sucrose on appetite, appetite-regulating hormones, and postmeal thermogenesis. J Am Coll Nutr. 2010 Oct;29(5):482-93. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2010.10719885.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21504975 (View on PubMed)

Gonzalez-Rodriguez M, Pazos-Couselo M, Garcia-Lopez JM, Rodriguez-Segade S, Rodriguez-Garcia J, Tunez-Bastida C, Gude F. Postprandial glycemic response in a non-diabetic adult population: the effect of nutrients is different between men and women. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2019 Jul 17;16:46. doi: 10.1186/s12986-019-0368-1. eCollection 2019.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31346341 (View on PubMed)

Carroll JF, Kaiser KA, Franks SF, Deere C, Caffrey JL. Influence of BMI and gender on postprandial hormone responses. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Dec;15(12):2974-83. doi: 10.1038/oby.2007.355.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18198306 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Related Links

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https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf

CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020, Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States

Other Identifiers

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FL118

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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