Does What You Eat Affect Your Brain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the human hypothalamus for signs of inflammation in response to specific diets. This research may lead to a better understanding of how poor nutritional quality may lead to obesity through effects on regions of the brain known to regulate body weight.

Official Title
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Assessing the Effect of Diet on Hypothalamic Gliosis in Humans

Conditions
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Gliosis, Obesity, Eating

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Diet modification #1
* Other: Diet modification #2
* Other: Diet modification #3


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 20-40 years Overweight: BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 Willing to undergo randomly assigned 14-day diet modification Exclusion Criteria: History of bariatric surgery or active participation in weight-loss program Major medical or neurological disorder (e.g., diabetes, multiple sclerosis) Anemia or impaired kidney or liver function Known gallbladder disease or gallstones Hypertriglyceridemia (>350 mg/dl) Current use of orlistat or other weight-loss medications or other medications known to alter appetite (e.g., atypical anti-psychotics) More than moderate level of physical activity (>1000 met-min/wk) Pregnancy, menopause, or breastfeeding MRI contraindication (e.g., implanted metal, claustrophobia) Lifetime eating disorder Current smoking or heavy alcohol use (≥ 2 drinks per day for females and ≥ 3 drinks per day for males) Weight > 350 pounds (MRI limit) Dietary restrictions (e.g., vegan) incompatible with controlled diets

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Assigned Diet #1<br> | Other: Diet modification #1<br>* Participants will be provided all meals for a 14-day period. For 7 of the days, meals will be 130% of estimated daily caloric needs and for the other 7 days, meals will be low in calories, consistent with recommendations for weight loss.<br>|
| Experimental: Assigned Diet #2<br> | Other: Diet modification #2<br>* Participants will be provided all meals for a 14-day period. For 7 of the days, meals will be 150% of estimated daily caloric needs and for the other 7 days, meals will be meals will be low in calories, consistent with recommendations for weight loss.<br>|
| Other: Assigned Diet #3<br> | Other: Diet modification #3<br>* Participants will be provided all meals for a 14-day period to be approximately 100% of estimated daily caloric needs.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hypothalamic Gliosis | T2 relaxation time as measured by brain MRI | 7 days of diet intervention |