The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how food processing level affects appetite and gastrointestinal transit time when meal palatability is changed. Participants will complete one screening visit and four test visits. During each test visit, participants will consume one of four meals that differ by food processing level and palatability: high-palatability ultra-processed food, low-palatability ultra-processed food, high-palatability non-ultra-processed food, or low-palatability non-ultra-processed food. The main questions this study aims to answer are whether food processing and palatability affect appetite sensations and gastrointestinal transit time. Participants will rate appetite sensations during each test visit and provide breath samples to measure gastrointestinal transit time.
This is a randomized crossover trial examining the effects of food processing level and palatability on appetite and gastrointestinal transit time. Participants will complete a screening visit followed by four test visits, with each test visit separated by at least one week. Each participant will consume all four test meals: high-palatability ultra-processed food, low-palatability ultra-processed food, high-palatability non-ultra-processed food, and low-palatability non-ultra-processed food. Palatability will be reduced by adding bitter melon powder to the low-palatability meals. During each test visit, participants will consume the assigned test meal containing lactulose as a marker of gastrointestinal transit time. Breath samples will be collected to assess orocecal transit time using hydrogen analysis. Participants will also rate meal palatability and appetite sensations, including hunger, fullness, desire to eat, amount they could eat, and thirst, using visual analog scales during the test visit.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Participants will consume a palatable ultra-processed test meal during one study visit. The meal will consist of commonly available ultra-processed food items and will be used to assess appetite sensations, meal palatability, and gastrointestinal transit time.
Participants will consume an unpalatable ultra-processed test meal during one study visit. Palatability will be reduced by adding organic bitter melon powder to the ultra-processed meal. The meal will be used to assess appetite sensations, meal palatability, and gastrointestinal transit time.
Participants will consume a palatable non-ultra-processed test meal during one study visit. The meal will consist of commonly available non-ultra-processed food items and will be used to assess appetite sensations, meal palatability, and gastrointestinal transit time.
Participants will consume an unpalatable non-ultra-processed test meal during one study visit. Palatability will be reduced by adding organic bitter melon powder to the non-ultra-processed meal. The meal will be used to assess appetite sensations, meal palatability, and gastrointestinal transit time.
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Orocecal Transit Time
Orocecal transit time will be assessed using hydrogen analysis of end-alveolar breath samples collected after consumption of each test meal. Each test meal will contain lactulose as a marker of gastrointestinal transit time.
Time frame: During each test visit, up to 4.5 hours after meal consumption
Appetite Sensations
Appetite sensations, including hunger, fullness, desire to eat, prospective food consumption, and thirst, will be assessed using 100-mm visual analog scales during each test visit after consumption of the assigned test meal every 30 minutes. Each visual analog scale ranges from 0 to 100 mm, with higher scores indicating a greater intensity of the rated sensation. Higher scores are not inherently better or worse outcomes, but reflect greater hunger, fullness, desire to eat, prospective food consumption, or thirst, depending on the item.
Time frame: During each test visit, up to 4.5 hours after meal consumption
Meal Palatability Ratings
Meal palatability will be assessed using a 100-mm general labeled magnitude scale during each study visit. The scale ranges from 0 to 100 mm, with 0 mm anchored by "most disliked sensation imaginable," 50 mm anchored by "neutral," and 100 mm anchored by "most liked sensation imaginable." Higher scores indicate greater liking of the test meal and therefore a more favorable palatability rating.
Time frame: During each test visit, up to 4.5 hours after meal consumption
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