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Impact of Energy Density on Energy Intake During Bed Rest

Not Applicable
Conditions
Bed Rest
Space Analogue
Interventions
Other: Dietary intervention with manipulation of the energy density
Registration Number
NCT06571877
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital Tuebingen
Brief Summary

Brief summary: This study is conducted in the context of a 60 days strict bed-rest study with 6° head-down-tilt (HDT) body position. Food intake can be challenging during bed-rest due to loss of appetite and constantly feeling full. The study aims to assess whether or not energy intake varies during a meal when the energy density of a meal is increased by the fat content. This experiment follows a crossover design with repeated measures within subjects. The order of experimental conditions is balanced among participants and sex, and the assignment of orders to participants is randomly. On each test day, participants are provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner as usual. Across test days, the ED of breakfast (24 participants) or lunch (24 participants) is modified to two levels: the standard level and an increased level (+ 0.42 kcal/g compared to the standard). The meals are adjusted in energy density without noticeable changes in appearance or taste. These meals have identical ingredients, but the macronutrient proportions are modified. Entrées with increased fat content are prepared by incorporating neutral-tasting vegetable oil into the standard recipes. Participants receive their meals and are given the flexibility to eat ad libitum for 45 minutes. To comply with the strict bed rest rules, the next meal will be used for counterbalancing total energy intake over the day if necessary. In case of problems, a nutrient drink could be used to assure the requested total energy intake in order to maintain body weight.The experiments are conducted during 4 campaigns, each campaign consisting of 12 participants.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • Physically and mentally healthy test subjects that declare their willingness to participate in the entire study and successfully pass the psychological and medical screening
  • Aged between 24 and 55 years
  • Body mass index between 18 to 28 kg/m2
  • Body height between 153 to 190 cm (+/- 2 cm)
  • Signed informed consent
  • Demonstrable medical insurance and official certificate of absence of criminal record
  • No less than 2 SD below the average normal bone mineral density (measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) for hip and lumbar spine (i.e., mean peak bone mineral density of Caucasian, sex-matched young adults) denoted by T-score (T-score > -2)
  • Demonstrable dentist certificate
  • Hormonal contraception for female participants is allowed, but details (manufacturer, doses, dates) must be reported
Exclusion Criteria

Candidate subject exclusion criteria for the study will include the following:

  • Any infectious, genetic, autoimmune, endocrinological, hematological, cardiovascular, lung, gastroenterological, kidney, rheumatic, muscle, bone, orthopedic, dermatological, gynecological, urological, ophthalmological, otorhinolaryngological, neurological or psychiatric disease (see at the end of document; a) that precludes a safe participation in the study or might significantly impact scientific results of the study according to the study physician
  • Drug, medication or alcohol abuse (regular consumption of more than 30 g alcohol/day)
  • Smoker within 6 months prior to enrollment
  • Any long-term medication use that might significantly impact scientific results of the study (for instance bisphosphonate therapy, anti-hypertensives, gastro-esophageal reflux).

Special dietary requests, that cannot be provided by the project team (e.g. vegan, vegetarian or other ineligible diet)

  • Claustrophobia
  • Increased intraocular pressure
  • Hyperopia / Myopia > +/- 5.0 Diopters
  • Astigmatism > 3 Diopters
  • History of laser surgery of the eye, glaucoma and retinal surgery
  • Any ocular condition that would significantly impact visual function
  • Significant chronic gastro-esophageal reflux precluding a safe participation in the study
  • Clinically relevant allergy (e.g. requirement to carry a stand-by emergency injection), that precludes a safe participation in the study
  • History of chronic back complaints, that precludes a safe participation in the study
  • History of kidney stones
  • Anemia: Hemoglobin under normal values (see at the end of document; b). (Normal values of Hemoglobin for men: 13.0-17.5 g/dl; women 12.0-16.0 g/dl)
  • Elevated risk of thrombosis (see at the end of document; c)
  • Inability to successfully complete a 10-minute upright posture test without clinically relevant orthostatic symptoms
  • Current or history of hemorrhagic diathesis or coagulations disorders
  • History of spinal cord disease, including radiculopathy, myelopathy, or neuropathy
  • History of disorders affecting CSF circulation (i.e. hydrocephalus, idiopathic intracranial hypertension) History of more than one depressive episode and/or history of a severe depressive episode, such as requiring inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment
  • Known chronic tinnitus
  • Hearing loss (bi-lateral or one-sided) precluding successful participation in the study
  • Female candidate is pregnant or breast-feeding
  • Female candidate is in menopause or post-menopause, unless on hormone replacement therapy (but not treated with bisphosphonates or anti-resorptives)
  • Female candidate stopped hormonal contraception medication up to 3 months prior to study start
  • Metal implants (or objects like metallic slivers in the eyes, or bullets or shrapnel in the body) or other kinds of bone synthesis materials, implanted medical devices, tattoos or permanent make-up incompatible with MRI
  • Participation in a (clinical) study within the last 3 months before start of this study that significantly confounds participation in the study Any other condition which makes the test subject unsuitable for study inclusion in the opinion of the project team

Explanations to exclusion criteria (a-c)

  1. History of single episode of prolonged grief or mild depression with no symptoms in the 12 months prior to study start is acceptable
  2. Normal values from: https://www.lab-quade.de/leistungen/?idLoc=1
  3. A thrombosis risk stratification will be conducted according to clinical standards: in the anamnesis, the subject will be extensively questioned for thrombosis risk factors and assessed by means of specific analytical laboratory methods for assessing thrombosis risk using thrombophilia screening

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control energy density conditionDietary intervention with manipulation of the energy densityEach participant is its own control (cross-over design). Participants receive a bowl with 1000 ml food content consisting of oats, apple pie, grated nuts and milk having an energy density of 1,42 kcal/g. The participants are allowed to eat ad libitum for 45 minutes.
High energy density conditionDietary intervention with manipulation of the energy densityParticipants receive a bowl with 1000 ml food content consisting of oats, apple pie, grated nuts, milk and neutral-tasting vegetable oil having an energy density of 1,84 kcal/g.The participants are allowed to eat ad libitum for 45 minutes.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Energy intake in kcalMeasurments taken at days 6, 8, 51 and 53 in the 60 days head down tilt period.

Energy intake is calculated by measuring the amount of food before and after the experiment and precalculation of the energy content of the meals

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Visual analogue scale for perception of portion sizeMeasurments taken at days 6, 8, 51 and 53 in the 60 days head down tilt period before the meal, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes after the meal and directly before the next meal (either lunch or dinner)

Portion size is measured using a 100 mm VAS.

Emotional responseMeasurments taken at days 6, 8, 51 and 53 in the 60 days head down tilt period before the meal, 30 minutes and 60 minutes after the meal and directly before the next meal (either lunch or dinner)

Emotional response is used using the Self assessment manikin (Bradley \& Lang, 1994)

Number of participants assigned to countermeasures for consequences of long-term bed restAllocation to countermeasure test arms is done ahead of the bed rest study, at least 4 weeks ahead bed rest.

During bed rest, the participants are allocated to 4 arms of different countermeasures for consequences of long-term bed red which is independent of this food study. These countermeasures include: Arm 1: Electrical Muscle Stimulation; Arm 2: Proprioceptive Training; Arm 3: Exercise plus proprioceptive Training; Arm 4: Control.

This information on "bed rest countermeasure" will be added as a co-variate.

Composite appetite score measured by 10 cm visual analogue scales (VAS)Measurments taken at days 6, 8, 51 and 53 in the 60 days head down tilt period before the meal, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes after the meal and directly before the next meal (either lunch or dinner)

Appetite perception is measured using validated 100 mm VAS for hunger, satisfaction, fullness, and prospective food consumption (Flint et al., 2000). The composite score is calculated as follows: (\[hunger + prospective food consumption + (100-fullness) + (100-satisfaction)\]/4) by Stubbs et al., 2000

Amount of food intake in gMeasurments taken at days 6, 8, 51 and 53 in the 60 days head down tilt period.

The amount of food intake is calculated by measuring the amount of food before and after the experiment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital Tuebingen

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Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

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