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The Impact of Reformulated Foods on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Obesity
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Cardiovascular Disease
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Conventional products
Dietary Supplement: Reformulated products
Registration Number
NCT01645995
Lead Sponsor
University of Reading
Brief Summary

Specific policies on obesity reduction often include a recommendation to reduce sugar consumption as a means of lowering overall caloric intake. Reformulating processed foods (e.g. sugary products) is considered one of the key options for improving population diet. The implications of regular consumption of reformulated products are not fully understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that dietary compensation is common, although the extent is not fully elucidated. In addition to the perceived impact of sugar consumption on weight control, high sugar intake, specifically sucrose and fructose, has been implicated in the increase of plasma lipids and markers of insulin resistance. However to date no randomised controlled study has investigated whether the consumption of reformulated low sugar products as components of a habitual diet have a significant impact on plasma lipid, insulin or glucose concentrations within a free-living, non-diseased population. It is hypothesised that exchange of reformulated, low sugar food products for habitually consumed foods will result in dietary compensation and minimal weight change compared with unmodified products and will have little impact on plasma glucose, insulin and lipid levels.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age: 20 - 49 years
  • BMI 18.5 - 30 kg/m2
  • Plasma glucose <7 mmol/l (Not diagnosed with diabetes)
  • Plasma cholesterol <7 mmol/l
  • Plasma TAG <2.3 mmol/l
  • Normal liver and kidney function
  • Haemoglobin (>110 g/l women; 140g/dl men)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Having suffered a myocardial infarction/stroke in the past 12 months
  • diabetic (diagnosed or fasting glucose > 7 mmol/l)
  • Smoking
  • On drug treatment for hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, inflammation or hypercoagulation
  • Suffering from renal or bowel disease or have a history of choleostatic liver or pancreatitis
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • History of alcohol abuse
  • Following a reducing diet or vegan diet
  • Taking any fish oil, fatty acid or vitamin and mineral supplements
  • Participating in intensive aerobic activity for > 20 minutes 3 times per week
  • Food allergies
  • Anti-inflammatory usage

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Conventional productsConventional productsSubjects were asked to supplement their habitual diet with conventional sugar products for 8 weeks. Subjects were provided with conventional beverages, sauces, condiments and snacks. They were asked to consume a minimum of 1 drink + 1 food portion intervention supplement daily, in exchange for habitually eaten equivalent foods.
Reformulated productsReformulated productsSubjects were asked to supplement their habitual diet with reformulated sugar-reduced products for 8 weeks. Subjects were provided with reformulated beverages, sauces, condiments and snacks. They were asked to consume a minimum of 1 drink + 1 food portion intervention supplement daily, in exchange for habitually eaten equivalent foods.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in body weight and body composition20 weeks. Baseline and week 8 assessments for two dietary intervention arms
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in energy and nutrient intake20 weeks. Run-in period and week 7 assessments for two dietary intervention arms
Changes in physical activity levels20 weeks. Run-in period and week 7 assessments for two dietary intervention arms

Measured by accelerometry

Changes in appetite and mood ratings20 weeks. Run-in period and week 7 assessments for two dietary intervention arms

Subjective sensations of appetite and mood by visual analogue scale

Changes in fasting plasma lipid, insulin and glucose concentrations20 weeks. Baseline and week 8 assessments for two dietary intervention arms
Changes in cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, inflammatory markers)20 weeks. Baseline and week 8 assessments for two dietary intervention arms
Changes in vascular stiffness by pulse wave analysis (PWA) and digital volume pulse (DVP)20 weeks. Baseline and week 8 assessments for two dietary intervention arms

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading

🇬🇧

Reading, Berks, United Kingdom

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