Ultra-Processed Foods, Palatability, Appetite, and Gastrointestinal Transit
United States40 participantsStarted 2024-09-24
Plain-language summary
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.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 60 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Individuals aged 18 to 60 years.
* Any sex, gender, or orientation.
* Self-reported good health.
* No medication use.
* No allergies or food sensitivities to any of the foods used in the study.
* No anticipated change in physical activity during the study period.
* Willingness to complete all planned study activities, including the screening visit and four test visits.
* At screening, participants must rate the selected high-palatability foods between 60 and 90 on a 100-unit visual analog scale, where 100 = extremely palatable.
* At screening, participants must rate the selected low-palatability foods between 10 and 40 on a 100-unit visual analog scale.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Younger than 18 years or older than 60 years.
* Current medication use.
* Allergies or food sensitivities to any study foods.
* Not meeting the required palatability rating ranges during screening.
* Anticipated change in physical activity during the study period.
* Not self-reporting good health.
* Unwillingness or inability to complete the planned study activities.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Orocecal Transit Time
Timeframe: During each test visit, up to 4.5 hours after meal consumption
2
Appetite Sensations
Timeframe: During each test visit, up to 4.5 hours after meal consumption
3
Meal Palatability Ratings
Timeframe: During each test visit, up to 4.5 hours after meal consumption