Impacts of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage on Body Weight
Condition: Obesity
MeSH terms: Body Weight
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The obesity epidemic is a major public health problem. Weight gain is strongly associated
      with an increase in the incidence of complex health conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D),
      cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancers. Behaviours linked to food and beverage
      consumption can greatly affect body weight. Frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
      such as carbonated soft-drinks, energy and sport drinks, fruit juices from concentrate, soda
      and flavoured milk and water is considered to be an unhealthy dietary behaviour.

      This project will investigate how variations in an individual's genes may impact their
      consumption of SSBs and thus body fatness. Specifically, the project will aim to investigate
      whether genetic variation in the taste receptors TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 can influence an
      individuals' perception and liking of a sweet palate and their intake of SSBs in UK. This
      study will be an experimental study that evaluates human body composition by different
      measurements. Additionally, two different biomarkers will be used for the study, such as
      blood and urine samples. Blood samples are the preferred source for DNA testing, rather than
      saliva. Urine samples will be used to look at the sugar level in the human body as a measure
      of body composition using deuterium dilution techniques. Around 128 adult volunteers will be
      recruited from Aberdeen, UK to participate in the study, which will take approximately one
      week to complete for each individual.
    

Detailed description: 
      To achieve this study, recruited volunteers (n=128), aged 18 years and older will visit the
      Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen on one occasion, their body composition will
      be measured by 3 methods: BOD POD, Tanita scales, and deuterium dilution and their
      consumption of SSBs will be assessed using 24h dietary recall (once in the lab and once at
      home over the phone). In addition, a urine sample will be collected and assessed for
      potential markers of sugar. Individuals will have a blood sample (up to 5 ml) taken to
      determine genetic variation in their taste receptors and they will also undergo a taste test
      using randomised tasting of a panel of 9 different sugar solutions measured in triplicate (in
      total they will taste 27 little cups).

      The researcher will advise all the study subjects to come to a designated room in the Rowett
      Research Institute to complete the measurement regime at a pre-determined time between 6:30
      am - 3:00 pm on their appointment day with about 2 participants per day. Each subjects
      measurments will take 4 hours to complete. Volunteers will complete informed consent before
      starting participate in the study:

      Pre visit:

      • Volunteers will be asked not to consume any food or drink other than water for 10 hours
      before their site visit, and avoid heavy exercise for 12 hours before to improve the accuracy
      of the body composition measurements.

      Phase I:

        -  Volunteers will be asked to collect (fasted) urine sample to determine normal markers
           for sugar in their body. This will also be used to determine background isotope levels
           for the deuterium dilution protocol (5 minutes for collecting urine sample)

        -  Measurement of weight and height (BMI) (5 minutes)

        -  Deuterium dilution (consumption of deuterium dose; volume determined by the subjects
           body weight) (10 minutes).

        -  Demographic questionnaire (10 minutes).

        -  24-h recall of SSB intake (face to face) (10 minutes). Rest Period

      Phase II:

        -  Tanita scale (5 minutes).

        -  BOD POD (10 minutes). Rest Period

      Phase III:

        -  Blood sample (15 minutes).

        -  Taste test (sugar solution) (50 minutes).

        -  Final urine sample (5 minutes).

      Follow Up:

      • 24-h recall SSB intake after 1 week (10 minutes).

      The compulsory tests are: urine sample, measuring body composition by (deuterium, Tanita and
      Bod Pod), and demographic questionnaire, 24-h recall of SSB intake (face to face and phone
      interview), measuring weight and height (BMI) and Blood sample for genetics and the taste
      test.
    

Observational model: Other
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        About 128 healthy adult volunteers are required to participate in the study. They need to
        be living in Aberdeen City or Aberdeenshire. Participants will be requited by flyers
        distributing from the public who live in Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. Also, from the
        Energetics research group account on twitter.

        Participants will volunteer to take part independently.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      We collected blood and urine samples. The researcher acknowledges the risks and ethical
      issues of taking biological samples, wearing correct PPE, and following the procedures for
      collection and handling samples. Participants will be fully aware of the study process via
      the PIS.
    
Keywords: Body fatness; Sweet taste receptors; Sugar-sweetened beverage