Food PreferencesNCT04497974
Sweet Tooth: Nature or Nurture? Role of Long-term Dietary Sweetness Exposure on Sweetness Preferences
A study testing Dietary intervention in people with Food Preferences, run by Wageningen University at 1 site in Netherlands.
Trial summary
In recent years, social pressure has been exerted towards lowering sugar and sweetness levels in foods, with the aim of decreasing the sweetness preference of the general population. However, the resilience/flexibility of sweetness preferences and the impact on energy intake is a fundamental knowledge gap. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Food Preferences
- What is being tested?
- Dietary intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 180 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNetherlands
- Study dates
- 20 Oct 2020to 5 Jun 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Good general health;
- Age 18 - 65 years;
- Body mass index 18.5 - 30 kg/m2;
- Having normal taste ability (assessed with taste strips test);
- Having normal glucose levels in blood (assessed with a finger prick);
- Able to provide informed consent;
- Able to attend Wageningen University, as required for testing.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosed with diabetes currently or in the past;
- Has been notified to have insulin resistance currently or in the past;
- Diagnosed with endocrine diseases or other metabolic diseases that influence metabolism;
- Diagnosed with eating disorders;
- Diagnosed with taste or smell disorder;
- Pregnant or lactating during the study intervention;
Show all 17Show fewer
- Gain or loss of more than 3 kg in the last three months prior to study entry;
- Suffering from lack of appetite (self-report);
- Use of medication that may influence study results; such as medication that may affect blood sugar;
- Having a food allergy or/and food intolerance for foods used in the preference testing (e.g. lactose intolerance, celiac disease, egg allergy);
- Consumes more than 14 glasses of alcohol per week;
- Use of soft or hard drugs (e.g. cannabis);
- Student or personnel of Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University;
- Participating in another study/studies or planning to participate in another study.
- Specific criteria for withdrawal:
- Pregnancy;
- Weight change of 4 kg or more. In a case of systematic weight change - a subject has gained or lost 4 kg or more at the 3-month period, he/she will be excluded from the study (stop criterion).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Netherlands1 site
Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
Wageningen
About this study
Official title: Role of Long-term Dietary Sweetness Exposure on Sweetness Preferences
In recent years, social pressure has been exerted towards lowering sugar and sweetness levels in foods, with the aim of decreasing the sweetness preference of the general population. However, the resilience/flexibility of sweetness preferences and the impact on energy intake is a fundamental knowledge gap. Recent, relatively long-term studies limited to no more than 3 months did not find a relationship between sweetness exposure and sweetness preferences. Therefore, a longer-term systematic investigation is necessary to objectively evaluate whether sweetness preferences can be altered via varying the sweetness exposure and whether it can affect other outcomes, such as perceived taste intensity, food intake, body weight, body composition, glucose homeostasis and sweet liker type. The study sample will consist of 180 subjects. Enrolled participants will be distributed into three intervention groups; regular dietary sweetness exposure (n=60); low dietary sweetness exposure (n=60); and high dietary sweetness exposure (n =60). The intervention is semi-controlled for a period of six months. Preference and perceived taste intensity of a series of familiar and unfamiliar foods will be assessed at baseline (Day 0), during the intervention (Month 1, Month 3, Month 6) and in the follow-up period (Month 7, Month 10). Furthermore, outcomes such as observed food choice and intake during a test meal, reported food preferences, reported food cravings, sweet-liker type, glucose homeostasis, body weight, body composition and biomarkers related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease will be assessed as well.
Read the detailed description
Evidence supporting sweetness preference alterations via variations in dietary sweetness exposure is limited. Most studies investigating this focused only on specific sweet elements in the diet, (e.g. beverages; mono- and disaccharides; high-energy dense snacks) instead of sweetness in the diet as a whole. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence about the relation between dietary sweetness exposure and weight gain. Therefore, longer term, sufficiently-powered studies with a 'whole diet' approach are needed to address the question whether sweet preferences can be altered (suppressed or stimulated) by variations in sweetness exposure. It is important to answer this question so that dietary recommendations can be scientifically tailored accordingly. The present study will provide breakthrough evidence about the flexibility/adaptability of sweetness preferences, in terms of effect sizes and direction, duration of effects, and impact on dietary intake, glucose homeostasis and body weight. This information is particularly relevant for product development by food industries in the context of reformulation strategies, and for governments to base their dietary guidelines upon.
The primary study objective is to assess the effect of a 6-month low, regular and high dietary sweetness exposure on sweetness preference in a series of familiar and unfamiliar foods. Preference will be assessed in both familiar and unfamiliar foods since, preferences in familiar, commonly eaten foods might by harder to change compared to those for unfamiliar foods, because there is no consumer-expected sweetness level associated with unfamiliar foods. The secondary objective is to assess the effect of a 6-month low, regular and high dietary sweetness exposure on sweetness perception, food choice and intake during a test meal, dietary taste patterns, taste preferences, food cravings, sweet-liker type, glucose homeostasis, biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, body weight and body composition. Participants will be matched on age, gender, BMI and sweet liker status and randomly allocated to one of the three intervention arms: (1) regular dietary sweetness exposure (25-30 percent daily energy from sweet foods) (control) (n=60); (2) low dietary sweetness exposure (10-15 percent daily energy from sweet foods) (n=60); and (3) high dietary sweetness exposure (40-45 percent daily energy from sweet foods) (n=60). The intervention is semi-controlled, meaning that 50 percent of the foods will be provided to participants. Foods are offered ad libitum, on a weekly basis and macronutrient composition of the offered foods is similar in energy and macronutrient composition, that is fat, protein, carbohydrates and fibres, but different in sweetness. New methodology of our group enables us to assess sweetness exposure within a diet, by profiling foods based on six taste clusters (neutral; salt, umami \& fat; sweet and fat; sweet and sour; fat; bitter).
Preference and perceived taste intensity will be assessed during hedonic and sensory evaluation of eight foods; three sweet familiar, three sweet unfamiliar and two salty familiar ones. Foods are solid, semi-solid and liquid. Furthermore, observed food choice and intake during test meals, reported food preferences, reported food cravings, sweet-liker type, glucose homeostasis, body weight, body composition and biomarkers related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease will be assessed. Outcomes will be assessed several times; at baseline (Month 0), during the intervention Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 and in the follow up period (Month 7, Month 10). Compliance will be assessed with 24-hour urine sample and dietary assessment methods (24-hour recalls).
- Conditions
- Food Preferences
- Being tested
- Dietary intervention
- Keywords
- sweetness, preferences
- Medical subject headings
- Food Preferences
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dietary interventionOther
Varying the exposure to sweetness via diet manipulation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Regular dietary sweetness exposure - Control | Active comparator | Regular dietary sweetness exposure (RSE) - The RSE group consumes a diet with 25 - 30 % energy from sweet tasting foods, for 6 months. Receives: Other: Dietary intervention |
| Low dietary sweetness exposure - Experimental | Experimental | Low dietary sweetness exposure (LSE) - The LSE group consumes a diet with 10 - 15 % energy from sweet tasting foods, for 6 months. Receives: Other: Dietary intervention |
| High dietary sweetness exposure - Experimental | Experimental | High dietary sweetness exposure (HSE) - The HSE group consumes a diet with 40 - 45 % energy from sweet tasting foods, for 6 months. Receives: Other: Dietary intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in preference score.
Measured during preference testing, using Ranking on a scale methodology (scale anchored at 0: Dislike extremely; 50: Neither dislike or like; 100: Like extremely) in a series of test foods.
Measured: from month 0 to month 6.
Secondary outcomes (22)
Change in preference score.
Measured during preference testing, using Ranking on a scale methodology (scale anchored at 0: Dislike extremely; 50: Neither dislike or like; 100: Like extremely) in a series of test foods.
Measured: from month 0 to month 1, 3, 7 ad 10.
Difference in mean liking scores between familiar and unfamiliar foods.
Measured during preference testing, using Ranking on a scale methodology (scale anchored at 0: Dislike extremely; 50: Neither dislike or like; 100: Like extremely) in a series of test foods.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Change in sensory intensity scores.
Measured during sensory testing, using 100-unit Visual analogue scale (VAS), (anchored at 0: not sweet/salty at all; 100: Extremely sweet/salty) in a series of test foods.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Change in energy intake.
Measured during ad-libitum test meal in kcal.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Change in energy intake.
Measured during ad-libitum test meal in kJ.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Proportion of eaten sweet foods vs. foods from other taste modalities.
Measured during ad-libitum test meal in proportions.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months
Sweet-liker status score.
Measured on a 100-unit VAS scale (anchored at 0: Dislike; 100: Like).
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Food craving questionnaire scores.
Measured using the Control of eating questionnaire (CoEQ)
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Taste preference questionnaire scores.
Measured using Taste Preference questionnaire (PrefQuest).
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Dietary taste patterns.
Measured with the Taste food frequency questionnaire in frequency.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Dietary taste patterns.
Measured with the Taste food frequency questionnaire in % of energy coming from each taste cluster.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Dietary taste patterns.
Measured with the Taste food frequency questionnaire in % of food weight coming from each taste cluster.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Body weight.
Measured with a weighing scale in kg.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Waist-to-hip ratio.
Measured using a stretch-resistant tape.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
% of body fat mass and lean body mass (fat free mass).
Measured with a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
Measured: Measured at 0, 6 and 10 months.
Variation in interstitial glucose levels.
Measured with glucose monitoring sensor (only measured in a subgroup, of 60 subjects, 20 per intervention arm).
Measured: Measured at 0, 6 and 10 months.
Change in fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides levels in blood.
Measured in blood in mmol/L.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Adverse events.
Self-reported and monitored.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 months.
Concentration of biomarkers in urine related to sugar, low and no calorie sweeteners, protein and salt intake.
Measured in urine in mg/d.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Intake levels of foods, food groups and macronutrients.
Measured with 24-hour recalls, in kcal/day.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Intake levels of foods, food groups and macronutrients.
Measured with 24-hour recalls, in kJ/day.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Intake levels of foods, food groups and macronutrients.
Measured with 24-hour recalls, in g/day.
Measured: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Aug 2020
- Study start20 Oct 2020
- Primary completion5 Jun 2024
- Study completion5 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Food PreferencesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomised controlled intervention study
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Wageningen University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bournemouth University, TKI Agri & Food, Next Food Collective, American Beverage Association, Arla Foods, Cargill, Firmenich, Switzerland, International Sweeteners Association, SinoSweet, China, Cosun Nutrition Center, Netherlands, Unilever R&D
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Monica Mars, Wageningen University
- Investigators
- Kees de Graaf, Study chair, WUMonica Mars, Principal investigator, WU
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04497974
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NL72134.081.19
- Status last verified
- Jun 2024
- First submitted
- 16 Dec 2019
- Last updated
- 13 Jun 2024
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data that underline the results reported in an article after de-identification will be shared.
Publications
Cad EM, Tang CS, de Jong HBT, Mars M, Appleton KM, de Graaf K. Study protocol of the sweet tooth study, randomized controlled trial with partial food provision on the effect of low, regular and high dietary sweetness exposure on sweetness preferences in Dutch adults. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jan 11;23(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14946-4.
PubMed 36627602Cad EM, Mars M, Pretorius L, van der Kruijssen M, Tang CS, de Jong HB, Balvers M, Appleton KM, de Graaf K. The Sweet Tooth Trial: A Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of A 6-Month Low, Regular, or High Dietary Sweet Taste Exposure on Sweet Taste Liking, and Various Outcomes Related to Food Intake and Weight Status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 Jan;123(1):101073. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041. Epub 2025 Nov 27.
PubMed 41485871
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jun 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Role of Long-term Dietary Sweetness Exposure on Sweetness Preferences
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04497974
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NL72134.081.19
- Conditions
- Food Preferences
- Keywords
- sweetness, preferences
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Wageningen UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bournemouth University, TKI Agri & Food, Next Food Collective, American Beverage Association, Arla Foods, Cargill, Firmenich, Switzerland, International Sweeteners Association, SinoSweet, China, Cosun Nutrition Center, Netherlands, Unilever R&D
- Study start
- 20 Oct 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Aug 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In recent years, social pressure has been exerted towards lowering sugar and sweetness levels in foods, with the aim of decreasing the sweetness preference of the general population. However, the resilience/flexibility of sweetness preferences and the impact on energy intake is a fundamental knowledge gap. Recent, relatively long-term studies limited to no more than 3 months did not find a relationship between sweetness exposure and sweetness preferences. Therefore, a longer-term systematic investigation is necessary to objectively evaluate whether sweetness preferences can be altered via varying the sweetness exposure and whether it can affect other outcomes, such as perceived taste intensity, food intake, body weight, body composition, glucose homeostasis and sweet liker type. The study sample will consist of 180 subjects. Enrolled participants will be distributed into three intervention groups; regular dietary sweetness exposure (n=60); low dietary sweetness exposure (n=60); and high dietary sweetness exposure (n =60). The intervention is semi-controlled for a period of six months. Preference and perceived taste intensity of a series of familiar and unfamiliar foods will be assessed at baseline (Day 0), during the intervention (Month 1, Month 3, Month 6) and in the follow-up period (Month 7, Month 10). Furthermore, outcomes such as observed food choice and intake during a test meal, reported food preferences, reported food cravings, sweet-liker type, glucose homeostasis, body weight, body composition and biomarkers related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease will be assessed as well.
Detailed description
Evidence supporting sweetness preference alterations via variations in dietary sweetness exposure is limited. Most studies investigating this focused only on specific sweet elements in the diet, (e.g. beverages; mono- and disaccharides; high-energy dense snacks) instead of sweetness in the diet as a whole. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence about the relation between dietary sweetness exposure and weight gain. Therefore, longer term, sufficiently-powered studies with a 'whole diet' approach are needed to address the question whether sweet preferences can be altered (suppressed or stimulated) by variations in sweetness exposure. It is important to answer this question so that dietary recommendations can be scientifically tailored accordingly. The present study will provide breakthrough evidence about the flexibility/adaptability of sweetness preferences, in terms of effect sizes and direction, duration of effects, and impact on dietary intake, glucose homeostasis and body weight. This information is particularly relevant for product development by food industries in the context of reformulation strategies, and for governments to base their dietary guidelines upon.
The primary study objective is to assess the effect of a 6-month low, regular and high dietary sweetness exposure on sweetness preference in a series of familiar and unfamiliar foods. Preference will be assessed in both familiar and unfamiliar foods since, preferences in familiar, commonly eaten foods might by harder to change compared to those for unfamiliar foods, because there is no consumer-expected sweetness level associated with unfamiliar foods. The secondary objective is to assess the effect of a 6-month low, regular and high dietary sweetness exposure on sweetness perception, food choice and intake during a test meal, dietary taste patterns, taste preferences, food cravings, sweet-liker type, glucose homeostasis, biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, body weight and body composition. Participants will be matched on age, gender, BMI and sweet liker status and randomly allocated to one of the three intervention arms: (1) regular dietary sweetness exposure (25-30 percent daily energy from sweet foods) (control) (n=60); (2) low dietary sweetness exposure (10-15 percent daily energy from sweet foods) (n=60); and (3) high dietary sweetness exposure (40-45 percent daily energy from sweet foods) (n=60). The intervention is semi-controlled, meaning that 50 percent of the foods will be provided to participants. Foods are offered ad libitum, on a weekly basis and macronutrient composition of the offered foods is similar in energy and macronutrient composition, that is fat, protein, carbohydrates and fibres, but different in sweetness. New methodology of our group enables us to assess sweetness exposure within a diet, by profiling foods based on six taste clusters (neutral; salt, umami \& fat; sweet and fat; sweet and sour; fat; bitter).
Preference and perceived taste intensity will be assessed during hedonic and sensory evaluation of eight foods; three sweet familiar, three sweet unfamiliar and two salty familiar ones. Foods are solid, semi-solid and liquid. Furthermore, observed food choice and intake during test meals, reported food preferences, reported food cravings, sweet-liker type, glucose homeostasis, body weight, body composition and biomarkers related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease will be assessed. Outcomes will be assessed several times; at baseline (Month 0), during the intervention Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 and in the follow up period (Month 7, Month 10). Compliance will be assessed with 24-hour urine sample and dietary assessment methods (24-hour recalls).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Randomised controlled intervention study
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Regular dietary sweetness exposure - Control | Active comparator | Other: Dietary interventionRegular dietary sweetness exposure (RSE) - The RSE group consumes a diet with 25 - 30 % energy from sweet tasting foods, for 6 months. |
| Low dietary sweetness exposure - Experimental | Experimental | Other: Dietary interventionLow dietary sweetness exposure (LSE) - The LSE group consumes a diet with 10 - 15 % energy from sweet tasting foods, for 6 months. |
| High dietary sweetness exposure - Experimental | Experimental | Other: Dietary interventionHigh dietary sweetness exposure (HSE) - The HSE group consumes a diet with 40 - 45 % energy from sweet tasting foods, for 6 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Good general health;
- Age 18 - 65 years;
- Body mass index 18.5 - 30 kg/m2;
- Having normal taste ability (assessed with taste strips test);
- Having normal glucose levels in blood (assessed with a finger prick);
Key exclusion criteria (17 listed)
- Diagnosed with diabetes currently or in the past;
- Has been notified to have insulin resistance currently or in the past;
- Diagnosed with endocrine diseases or other metabolic diseases that influence metabolism;
- Diagnosed with eating disorders;
- Diagnosed with taste or smell disorder;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary interventionVarying the exposure to sweetness via diet manipulation. | Other | High dietary sweetness exposure - Experimental, Low dietary sweetness exposure - Experimental, Regular dietary sweetness exposure - Control |
Primary outcome
Change in preference score.
Time frame: from month 0 to month 6.
Measured during preference testing, using Ranking on a scale methodology (scale anchored at 0: Dislike extremely; 50: Neither dislike or like; 100: Like extremely) in a series of test foods.
22 secondary outcomes
Change in preference score.
Time frame: from month 0 to month 1, 3, 7 ad 10.
Difference in mean liking scores between familiar and unfamiliar foods.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Change in sensory intensity scores.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Change in energy intake.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Change in energy intake.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Proportion of eaten sweet foods vs. foods from other taste modalities.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months
Sweet-liker status score.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Food craving questionnaire scores.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Taste preference questionnaire scores.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Dietary taste patterns.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Dietary taste patterns.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Dietary taste patterns.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Body weight.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Waist-to-hip ratio.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
% of body fat mass and lean body mass (fat free mass).
Time frame: Measured at 0, 6 and 10 months.
Variation in interstitial glucose levels.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 6 and 10 months.
Change in fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides levels in blood.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Adverse events.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 months.
Concentration of biomarkers in urine related to sugar, low and no calorie sweeteners, protein and salt intake.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Intake levels of foods, food groups and macronutrients.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Intake levels of foods, food groups and macronutrients.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Intake levels of foods, food groups and macronutrients.
Time frame: Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 months.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jun 2024.
- Background: PubMed 36627602Cad EM, Tang CS, de Jong HBT, Mars M, Appleton KM, de Graaf K. Study protocol of the sweet tooth study, randomized controlled trial with partial food provision on the effect of low, regular and high dietary sweetness exposure on sweetness preferences in Dutch adults. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jan 11;23(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14946-4.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41485871Cad EM, Mars M, Pretorius L, van der Kruijssen M, Tang CS, de Jong HB, Balvers M, Appleton KM, de Graaf K. The Sweet Tooth Trial: A Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of A 6-Month Low, Regular, or High Dietary Sweet Taste Exposure on Sweet Taste Liking, and Various Outcomes Related to Food Intake and Weight Status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 Jan;123(1):101073. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041. Epub 2025 Nov 27.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data that underline the results reported in an article after de-identification will be shared.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Kees de Graaf study chair
WU
Monica Mars principal investigator
WU
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dietary intervention in people with Food Preferences, run by Wageningen University at 1 site in Netherlands.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 17 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jun 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in preference score. (time frame: from month 0 to month 6.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04497974, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jun 2024.