Clinical trial NCT06925932: This Trial Aims to Assess the Effects of Three Different Taste-based Dietary Recommendations for Reducing Free Sugar Intakes on Free Sugar Consumption in UK High Free Sugar Consumers
Official title: Reducing Free Sugar Intakes - The Role of Sweet Taste III
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Phase: NA
Conditions: Dietary Behavior
Free Sugar
Sweet Taste
Keywords: dietary behavior
free sugar
sweet taste
Lead sponsor: Bournemouth University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-13
Enrollment: 180
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This randomised controlled trial aims to assess the effects of three different taste-based dietary recommendations for reducing free sugar intakes on free sugar consumption in UK high free sugar consumers.

Detailed description: This 12-week, 3-arm randomised controlled trial aims to assess the effects of three different taste-based food and beverage substitution instructions for reducing free sugar intakes on free sugar consumption in high free sugar consumers. A total of 180 adult community members residing in Bournemouth and the surrounding areas will be recruited. All participants will be asked to reduce their intakes of free sugar and replace sweet, high-free sugar foods and beverages with either: 1) sweet tasting foods and beverages that have no or low amounts of free sugars; 2) non-sweet tasting foods and beverages that have no or low amounts of free sugars and are high in other tasty flavours; and 3) non-sweet tasting foods and beverages that have no or low amounts of free sugars and are also low in other flavours. The primary outcome of interest is the changes in free sugar intakes from baseline to endpoint. Secondary outcomes include a range of dietary and biopsychosocial outcomes, sweet taste perceptions and sweet food and beverage intakes, as well as compliance with and evaluation of the dietary recommendation received.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 and over
2. Consuming more than 10% total daily energy from free sugars (-3% for testing error)
3. Residing in the South of England, and able to attend Bournemouth University for testing (Talbot Campus, BH12 5BB)
4. Able to provide consent and complete all study-related measures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Being a smoker or having smoked in the last 3 months
2. Being pregnant or breastfeeding
3. Being underweight (BMI \< 18.5 kg/m²)
4. Dieting or following a specific diet program (e.g., Weight Watchers, Keto diet, or Intermittent Fasting)
5. Following a specific diet or nutritional advice as a result of pre-existing medical condition (e.g., Crohn's disease, diabetes)
6. Having a pre-existing medical condition or taking medication that could affect taste and/or smell abilities (e.g., certain blood pressure and heart medications)
7. Allergies to foods and drinks used in the study

Primary outcomes:
measure: Free sugar intakes
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Adherence
timeFrame: week 3 to week 12
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Energy intake and diet composition
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Body weight
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Waist circumference
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Body fat percentage
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Body mass index
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Fasted blood glucose
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Sweet food and beverage preferences
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Sweet food and beverage perceptions
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Sweet food and beverage choice
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Dietary advice evaluation
timeFrame: week 3 to week 12
measure: Sweet attitudes
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Self-reported quality of life
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Attitudes towards eating
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Dietary knowledge
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
measure: Adverse events
timeFrame: Baseline to week 12
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bournemouth
country: United Kingdom
facility: Bournemouth University
Study officials:
References: