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Snacks and Satiety

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Eating Behavior
Overweight
Obesity
Interventions
Other: Almond snack
Other: Cereal-based snack
Registration Number
NCT03947281
Lead Sponsor
USDA, Western Human Nutrition Research Center
Brief Summary

This study is designed to compare two types of snacks (almonds or a cereal-based snack), eaten between meals, on measures of appetite, including appetitive hormones, self-reported feelings of hunger and fullness, and food intake at a buffet meal or in the home environment. The investigators hypothesize that the acute responses of appetitive hormones to a meal challenge protocol will differ between almond and cereal-based snacks based on multivariate models of satiety that will be predictive of ad libitum food intake at a dinner meal as part of the meal challenge protocol. Further, the investigators will estimate if, under free-living conditions, self-selected and self-reported food intake will show appropriate energy compensation for the added calories of the snacks, and determine if one type of snack is superior to the other in this regard.

Detailed Description

This study will use a randomized, parallel design that includes an almond snack intervention and a cereal-based snack intervention group. The almond intervention will be roasted, unsalted almonds at a level of 56 grams per day for 4 weeks. The cereal-based intervention will be isocaloric snacks provided in the form of a mixture of dry cereal, pretzels, and bread sticks for 4 weeks. A satiety test protocol will be done at the beginning and the end of the intervention period. Each test day will include measures of satiety responses to two standard meals, two snacks (either almonds or cereal-based snacks), and a dinner buffet. The protocol to evaluate satiety signals include tonic measures that may signal homeostasis to the brain and evaluation of episodic signals that may drive food intake In addition, other modulators of satiety will be tested including evaluation of preferences for palatable foods, self-reports of cravings and satiety using questionnaires, and perceived hunger, fullness, desire to eat.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • Pre-menopausal
  • Body Mass Index 25 - 39.9 kg/m2
Exclusion Criteria
  • Women who are post-menopausal or peri-menopausal
  • BMI < 25 or > 40 kg/m2
  • Allergies to tree nuts
  • Using any hormonal contraception including oral contraceptive, contraceptive patch, contraceptive ring, contraceptive injection (e.g. Depo-Provera), or contraceptive implant (e.g. Nexplanon/Implanon)
  • Menstrual cycle lengths < 25 days or > 45 days, or have amenorrhea, eumenorrhea, or polymenorrhea.
  • Pregnant or nursing within the last 6 months, or plan to become pregnant during the trial
  • Medical diagnoses of chronic diseases including cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, renal disease, cancer, type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease requiring medication, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease, or those with recent major surgeries
  • current medical diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Almond snackAlmond snackThe almond intervention will be roasted almonds 56 grams/day for 28 days. The caloric value is approximately 350 kcals.
Cereal-based snackCereal-based snackThe cereal-based intervention will be a mixture of dry cereal, pretzels, and bread sticks prepared by the Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC). The caloric value is approximately 350 kcals.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Baseline level and change in oleoylethanolamideBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Oleoylethanolamide measured by mass spectrometry in blood

Baseline level and change in hungerBaseline, every 30 minutes up to 480 minutes, and immediately before and after three meals

Self-reported feelings of hunger measured on a visual analog scale. Responses will be a marked on an unsegmented line from 0 or "not at all" to 100 or "extremely."

Baseline level and change in cholecystokininBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Cholecystokinin (CCK) measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in peptide-YYBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Peptide-YY (PYY) measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in glucose-like peptide 1Baseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Glucose-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in insulinBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Insulin measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in leptinBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Leptin measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in orexinBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Orexin measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in glucoseBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Glucose measured by standard chemistry in blood

Baseline level and change in gastric inhibitory peptideBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in ghrelinBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, 90, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes after a lunch meal

Ghrelin measured in blood using an antibody based assay

Baseline level and change in endocannabinoid profilesBaseline, 60 minutes before lunch meal, and 10, 30, and 150 minutes after a lunch meal

Endocannabinoid profiles measured by mass spectrometry in blood

Baseline level and change in satietyBaseline, every 30 minutes up to 480 minutes, and immediately before and after three meals

Self-reported feelings of fullness measured on a visual analog scale. Responses will be a marked on an unsegmented line from 0 or "not at all" to 100 or "extremely."

Change in food intake at a dinner mealWeek 1 and 4

Calories consumed at a dinner meal following the satiety protocol

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in total body waterWeeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4

measured in kg using multi frequency bioimpedance

Body composition reference measurementWeek 1

Body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass in kg) will be measured once during the study using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

Change in body weightWeeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4

measured in kg

Premenstrual SyndromeWeek 0

Premenstrual Syndrome screening questionnaire measured once. Scale is a 4-point likert. Subscales for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), reported separately.

Change in waist circumferenceWeek 0 and 4

measured in cm

Change in hip circumferenceWeek 0 and 4

measured in cm

Change in Food ChoiceBaseline and following a lunch meal at Weeks 0 and 4

Food choice computer-based tests from Leeds, United Kingdom, will be used to estimate explicit liking and implicit wanting for several different categories of foods.

Food addiction questionnaireWeek 0

Yale food addiction questionnaire measured once on a 5-point likert scale

Change in body fatWeeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4

measured in kg using multi frequency bioimpedance

Change in food cravingWeek 0 and 4

Food craving estimated from the questionnaire, Food Craving Inventory, on a 5 point likert scale

Three factor eating inventoryWeek 0

Three factor eating inventory questionnaire measured once. Instrument has three subscales, combining likert scales and true/false questions. Subscales include cognitive restraint (score can range from 0 to 21), disinhibition (score can range from 0 to 16) and hunger (score can range from 0 to 14).

Change in liver stiffnessWeek 0 and 4

Liver stiffness assessed from the shear wave speed with pulse echo ultrasound using the Fibroscan®

Change in lean body massWeeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4

measured in kg using multi frequency bioimpedance

Change in self-reported satietyWeek 0 and 4

Self reported satiety measured using the 5-factor satiety questionnaire. Scale is a generalized labeled magnitude scale of 150 mm Subscales include mental hunger, physical hunger, mental fullness, physical fullness, and satiation. Subscale scores will range from 0 to 150.

Eating behaviorWeek 0

Dutch eating behavior questionnaire measured once. Scale is a 5-point likert scale. Sub scales include restrained eating, emotional eating, and external eating. Scores will be reported separately for each subscale.

Genetic risk of obesityWeek 1

A polygenic risk score (PRS) indexing genetic predisposition to obesity using known obesity single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Change in liver fatWeek 0 and 4

Liver fat assessed from the Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) computed from the liver stiffness measurement using the Fibroscan®

Power of food questionnaireWeek 0

Power of food questionnaire measured once on a 5 point likert scale

Change in dietary intakeTen dietary recalls collected at home during weeks 1-4

Dietary intake estimated from 24-hour recall using a web based automated multi-pass method

Change in metabolic rateBaseline and 1 hour before lunch meal, 1 hour after lunch meal, and 1 hour after mid-afternoon snack

Resting and post-prandial metabolic rate measured using indirect calorimetry.

Usual physical activityWeek 0

Physical activity estimated from the Stanford Brief Physical Activity questionnaire. Scale is categorical for two subscales: work physical activity and leisure time activity.

General health and well-beingWeek 0

The SF-36 General Health and Well-being questionnaire measured once

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

🇺🇸

Davis, California, United States

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