N/A
N=7
The Impact of the Physiological Response to Sugar on Brain Activity and Behavior
Food Preferences · Appetitive Behavior
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06015490 ↗Enrolled (actual)
7
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Sep 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Change in Preference- Subjective Liking Ratings for Each Beverage on a Scale — -12.8; -12.0; -12.6 units on a scale
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Sucrose drink (Other); Glucose drink (Other); Fructose drink (Other)
- Age
- Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Primary completion
- Jul 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change in Preference- Subjective Liking Ratings for Each Beverage on a Scale |
-12.8; -12.0; -12.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Post-Test Measure of Preference- Subjective Wanting Ratings for Each Beverage on a Scale |
42; 54.8; 46.9 | — |
| SECONDARY Post-Test Measure of Preference - Wanting (ad Libitum Intake): The Amount Consumed of Each Beverage is Reported as the Outcome |
67.8; 66.0; 66.3 | — |
| SECONDARY Post-Test Measure of Preference- Wanting (Forced Choice): Number of Participants Who Chose Each Indicated Beverage |
1; 3; 2 | — |
| SECONDARY Blood Oxygen Level-dependent (BOLD) Response to Beverages |
0.005; 0.109; 0.050 | — |
| SECONDARY Blood Glucose Response to Beverages |
16821.25; 11484.58334; 13760.66666 | — |
| SECONDARY Energy Expenditure in Response to Beverages |
-0.89; 0.940; 1.89 | — |
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.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- 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
Exclusion Criteria
- 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
- 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.)
- 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 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.)
- 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.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06015490). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.