WHNRC (Western Human Nutrition Research Center) Honey Study
- Conditions
- Satisfaction, PersonalPostprandial GlycemiaCognitive ChangeMetabolic Stress
- Interventions
- Other: HoneyOther: SucroseOther: Honey plus almondsOther: Sucrose plus almonds
- Registration Number
- NCT06107231
- Lead Sponsor
- USDA, Western Human Nutrition Research Center
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this research is to compare two snacks, one with honey and nuts and the other with sugar and nuts, on glucose levels before and after eating these snacks.
The investigators hypothesize that honey and nuts will have an additive effect on the reduction of postprandial glucose response. The investigators further hypothesize that consumption of honey paired with nuts will retain the benefit of sugar consumption in satiety and reduction of metabolic stress.
- Detailed Description
Consuming sugar creates a feeling of satiation, and may buffer metabolic stress. However, prolonged postprandial hyperglycemia has been identified as a potential risk factor in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nuts, which are recommended to be consumed as part of a Mediterranean diet, up to 2 servings per day, have been shown to dramatically reduce postprandial glucose response to carbohydrates. Additionally, honey, which is typically used as an added sugar within a Mediterranean diet pattern, has a lower glycemic index than table sugar and may result in a reduced postprandial glucose response relative to other nutritive sweeteners. However, it is not yet known whether honey can work additively with nuts to further reduce postprandial glucose response over the reduction caused by nuts alone.
Honey has been shown to produce equivalent or greater satiety to regular table sugar and there is some indication that honey can improve immediate/working memory. Therefore, combined consumption of honey and nuts may offer a way to maximize the benefits of carbohydrate consumption on satiety and metabolic stress reduction while minimizing its negative effects on metabolism. However, it is not yet known whether sugars contained in the more complex food matrix of honey, consumed together with a food like nuts can impact satiety and metabolic stress in the way that has been observed for sugar.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 80
- Women must be pre-menopausal
- Willing to consume snacks that contain honey, table sugar, and tree nuts
- Body Mass Index (BMI) <18.5 or >40
- Allergies to tree nuts
- Current medical diagnoses of chronic diseases including cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, renal diseases, cancer, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, thyroid disease requiring medication, inflammatory or irritable bowel diseases, or those with recent major surgeries
- No individuals who fall in to the vulnerable categories of adults including those unable to consent, pregnant women, children, or prisoners will be eligible for this study
- Routinely taking medications known to affect glucose response.
- Caffeine and alcohol use will not be excluded, but should be carefully reported by each subject.
Regarding female candidates:
- Post-menopausal
- Women who have been pregnant or nursing within the last 6 months or plan to become pregnant during the trial will be ineligible
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Honey alone and honey with almonds, then sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds Honey Participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Honey alone and honey with almonds, then sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds Sucrose plus almonds Participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds, then honey alone and honey with almonds Honey Participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Honey alone and honey with almonds, then sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds Honey plus almonds Participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Honey alone and honey with almonds, then sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds Sucrose Participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds, then honey alone and honey with almonds Sucrose Participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds, then honey alone and honey with almonds Honey plus almonds Participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Sucrose alone and sucrose with almonds, then honey alone and honey with almonds Sucrose plus almonds Participants will be provided sucrose alone once each day for 3 days, then sucrose plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. After a 14 day wash-out, participants will be provided honey alone once each day for 3 days, then honey plus almonds for an additional 3 days while wearing a continuous glucose monitor.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in postprandial glucose response Measured continuously over days 0-8 and 23-31 Interstitial glucose response measured by a continuous glucose monitor
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Self-reported nausea Fasting and 30, 60, and 90 min after consumption of standard breakfast on days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Responses regarding nausea will be collected using a visual analog scale on a tablet with a 0-100 scale depicting the extremes (0= not at all to 100= extremely)
Change in Self-reported hunger Fasting and 30, 60, and 90 min after consumption of standard breakfast on days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Responses regarding hunger will be collected using a visual analog scale on a tablet with a 0-100 scale depicting the extremes (0= not at all to 100= extremely)
Change in Self-reported fullness Fasting and 30, 60, and 90 min after consumption of standard breakfast on days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Responses regarding fullness will be collected using a visual analog scale on a tablet with a 0-100 scale depicting the extremes (0= not at all to 100= extremely)
Change in Self-reported desire to eat Fasting and 30, 60, and 90 min after consumption of standard breakfast on days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Responses regarding desire to eat will be collected using a visual analog scale on a tablet with a 0-100 scale depicting the extremes (0= not at all to 100= extremely)
Change in Self-reported satisfaction with snack Fasting and 30, 60, and 90 min after consumption of standard breakfast on days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Responses regarding satisfaction with snack will be collected using a visual analog scale on a tablet with a 0-100 scale depicting the extremes (0= not at all to 100= extremely)
Change in Cognitive testing for Paired Associates Learning Days 4, 8, 27, and 31 CANTAB software will be used to assess Paired Associates Learning (PAL)
Change in Salivary cortisol Day 0 and 23 fasting only. Days 4, 8, 27, and 31 at fasting, 30, 60 and 90 min after consumption of snack provided in standard breakfast Metabolic stress will be analyzed by measuring cortisol in saliva samples
Change in Self-reported prospective consumption Fasting and 30, 60, and 90 min after consumption of standard breakfast on days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Responses regarding prospective consumption will be collected using a visual analog scale on a tablet with a 0-100 scale depicting the extremes (0= not at all to 100= extremely)
Change in Cognitive testing for Spatial Working Memory Days 4, 8, 27, and 31 Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated battery (CANTAB) software will be used to assess Spatial Working Memory (SWM)
Change in Cognitive testing for Rapid Visual Processing Days 4, 8, 27, and 31 CANTAB software will be used to assess Rapid Visual Processing (RVP)
Change in Stool marker of inflammation Stool collected on study days 0, 4, 8, 23, 27, and 31 Fecal calprotectin measured in stool samples
Assessment of Fasted Salivary Estradiol Days 0, 4, 8, 23, 27,and 31 at fasting only Passive drool will be assayed for estradiol as they impact metabolic stress throughout study days
Assessment of Fasted Salivary Progesterone Days 0, 4, 8, 23, 27,and 31 at fasting only Passive drool will be assayed for progesterone as they impact metabolic stress throughout study days
Change in Dietary Intake Days 1-3, 5-7, 24-26, and 28-30 Food records collected using Automated Multi-pass Method (AMPM) on the platform ASA24
Change in Stool bacterial metagenomics Stool collected on study days 0, 4, 8, 23, 27, and 31 Honey responsive genes identified by metagenomics
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center
🇺🇸Davis, California, United States