Trial Outcomes & Findings for The Impact of the Physiological Response to Sugar on Brain Activity and Behavior (NCT NCT06015490)

The Impact of the Physiological Response to Sugar on Brain Activity and Behavior

Subjective ratings of liking of flavors used in the intervention will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. The generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale will be used. The scale is anchored by descriptors of "Most Disliked Sensation Imaginable" and "Most Liked Sensation Imaginable" at the lower and upper ends, respectively. The score is determined by the place on the scale participants select (range of scale is 0-100). An increase in score from baseline to post-intervention indicates an increase in liking.

Subjective ratings of liking of flavors used in the intervention will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. A Visual Analog Scale will be used. Participants select a place on the line that corresponds with their subjective rating, and the score is determined by the place selected (range of scores is 0-100). The line is anchored by polar opposite descriptors ("Do not want at all" and "Want very much"). An increase in score from baseline to post-intervention indicates and increase in wanting.

Ad libitum intake will be used as a measure of wanting in a post-test session. Participants will be provided each beverage used during the intervention and asked to drink as much or as little of them as they would like over a 30-minute period.

Forced choice will be used as a measure of wanting in a post-test session. Participants will be provided each of the beverages used during the intervention and asked to choose 1 to take home with them.

In a post-test session, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were performed while beverages (without calories) used during the intervention and a tasteless solution are delivered through a custom manifold fitted to a head coil and connected to a pump system that allows precisely timed and measured delivery of liquids. Participants receive the glucose, sucrose, fructose, and tasteless (control) solutions 18 times each over the course of 2 runs. Contrasts of interest are the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response of glucose+\>tasteless solution, sucrose\>tasteless solution, and fructose\>tasteless deliveries. Parameter estimates for these contrasts are extracted and reported. A positive outcome reflects greater whole-brain BOLD response for the sugar condition compared with a tasteless solution.

Blood glucose will be assessed at baseline and at set time points for 2 hours after consumption of intervention beverages (baseline, 5-, 20-, 40-, 60-, 90-, and 120-minutes after drink consumption)in one exposure session. Area under the curve is calculated using these time points and reported as the outcome measure.

Indirect calorimetry will be used to determine energy expenditure at baseline and for 120 minutes after consumption of condition beverages in an exposure session. Area under the curve is calculated as a change from baseline energy expenditure using minute-by-minute resolution across 120 minutes and reported as the outcome measure.