Dietary BehaviourNCT05684757
Reducing Free Sugar Intakes: A Role for Sweet Taste
A study testing Dietary Advice in people with Dietary Behaviour, run by Bournemouth University at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
This randomised controlled trial aims to assess the effects of three different types of dietary advice for reducing free sugar intakes, on intakes of free sugar, in a sample of the UK population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dietary Behaviour
- What is being tested?
- Dietary Advice
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 29 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2023to 31 Jul 2025
- 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
- aged 18-65 years;
- able to provide consent and complete all study materials;
- consuming >5% of TEI from free sugars;
- residing in the South of England, and able to attend Bournemouth University for testing.
Who cannot join
- individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
- underweight (BMI <18.5);
- have pre-existing clinical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, eating disorders, Crohn's disease and other illness's leading to participants receiving external nutritional advice and dietary restrictions;
- have pre-existing medical conditions affecting swallow ability, taste and smell perception;
- currently following a specific dietary programme (e.g.: Slimming World);
- current smokers or have smoked within 3 months of the study start date.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth, US and Canada Only, BH12 5BB
About this study
This randomised controlled trial aims to assess the effects of three different types of dietary advice for reducing free sugar intakes, on intakes of free sugar, in a sample of the UK population.
Read the detailed description
The primary objective of this randomised control trial is to assess the effects of three different types of dietary advice, for reducing total energy intakes (TEI) of free sugar. A total of 150 participants (age 18-65years) consuming diets >5% total energy intake from dietary free sugars will be recruited from across the Dorset region. All participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intake to <5% TEI, and to aid with this, they will be encouraged to reduce their intakes of specific foods identified as high in free sugars. Participants will also be advised to replace these foods with other foods dependent on their taste. Participants will be randomized to replace high sugar foods with: 1) foods that are low in sugars, but high in sweet taste; 2) foods that are low in sugars, but high in other tastes; and 3) foods that are low in taste. The primary outcome will be changes in free sugar consumption from baseline to endpoint at week 12. Secondary outcomes include change in: BMI; dietary profiles; sweetness preference; sweetness liking; food choices; low calorie sweetener intakes and adherence levels at week 12.
- Conditions
- Dietary Behaviour
- Being tested
- Dietary Advice
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dietary AdviceBehavioural
Dietary Advice
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary Advice: Sweet Taste | Active comparator | Participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that remain high in sweet taste, eg. fruit, low-calorie sweetened foods and drinks. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope. Receives: Behavioral: Dietary Advice |
| Dietary Advice: Taste | Active comparator | Participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that remain high in taste, eg. nuts, foods and drinks flavoured with herbs and spices. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope. Receives: Behavioral: Dietary Advice |
| Dietary Advice: No taste | Active comparator | Participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that are low in taste, eg. foods and drinks that are plain-flavoured, wholegrains. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope. Receives: Behavioral: Dietary Advice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Free sugar intakes
Percentage energy intake from free sugars, assessed using diet diaries
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Adherence
Adherence to the recommendations provided, assessed using diet diaries and self-reported adherence
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Secondary outcomes (13)
Dietary Intakes
Nutrient composition and taste of dietary intakes, assessed using diet diaries
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Body weight
Body weight, in kg, assessed using researcher measurements
Measured: Baseline to week 12
BMI
BMI, in kg/m2, assessed using researcher measurements
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Waist circumference
Waist circumference, in cm, assessed using researcher measurements
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Body fat percentage
Body fat percentage, assessed using bioimpedence, as conducted by the researcher measurements
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food preferences
Preferences for various sweet foods/fluids, assessed using a taste test, where participants sample several sweet and non-sweet foods and rate them for pleasantness on a 100mm Visual Analogue Scale. Higher scores signify stronger preferences
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food perceptions
Perceptions of the strength of sweet taste for various sweet foods/fluids, assessed using a taste test, where participants sample several sweet and non-sweet foods and rate them for strength of taste on a 100mm Visual Analogue Scale. Higher scores signify stronger perceptions
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food intakes
Selection of sweet foods/fluids at a given meal, assessed where participants can consume freely from a meal composed of sweet and non-sweet foods, and proportion of sweet foods consumed is measured in terms of weight consumed
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food attitudes
Attitudes towards sugar, sweeteners, and sweet-tasting foods, assessed using a questionnaire, soon to be published. Higher scores denote stronger attitudes.
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Adverse events
Adverse events, assessed by self-report
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Eating-based attitudes
Attitudes towards eating, assessed using the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (Karlsson J, et al. IJO 2000; 24: 1715-1725)
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Subjective Quality of Life
Quality of Life, measured using the SF-36 questionnaire (Ware et al, 1996), where Quality of Life is assessed out of 100, where a higher score demonstrates better quality of life
Measured: Baseline to week 12
Barriers and facilitators to success
An assessment of barriers and facilitators to success, assessed by self-report questionnaire
Measured: Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jan 2023
- Study start1 Mar 2023
- Primary completion22 Dec 2023
- Study completion31 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Dietary BehaviourStudies 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
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 29 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bournemouth University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Katherine M Appleton, Principal investigator, Bournemouth University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05684757
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AppletonRFS2022
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Jan 2023
- Last updated
- 29 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Anonymised study data will be available on completion of the trial from the PI
Publications
Appleton KM, Bielat AD, Guy DJ, Boxall LR, Karami N. Investigating a role for sweet taste in reducing free sugar intakes: results of a pilot randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2026 Sep 25:1-14. doi: 10.1017/S0007114526108307. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42788189
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reducing Free Sugar Intakes: A Role for Sweet Taste
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05684757
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AppletonRFS2022
- Conditions
- Dietary Behaviour
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 29 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bournemouth UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 22 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Jan 2023 (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.
This randomised controlled trial aims to assess the effects of three different types of dietary advice for reducing free sugar intakes, on intakes of free sugar, in a sample of the UK population.
Detailed description
The primary objective of this randomised control trial is to assess the effects of three different types of dietary advice, for reducing total energy intakes (TEI) of free sugar. A total of 150 participants (age 18-65years) consuming diets >5% total energy intake from dietary free sugars will be recruited from across the Dorset region. All participants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intake to <5% TEI, and to aid with this, they will be encouraged to reduce their intakes of specific foods identified as high in free sugars. Participants will also be advised to replace these foods with other foods dependent on their taste. Participants will be randomized to replace high sugar foods with: 1) foods that are low in sugars, but high in sweet taste; 2) foods that are low in sugars, but high in other tastes; and 3) foods that are low in taste. The primary outcome will be changes in free sugar consumption from baseline to endpoint at week 12. Secondary outcomes include change in: BMI; dietary profiles; sweetness preference; sweetness liking; food choices; low calorie sweetener intakes and adherence levels at week 12.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary Advice: Sweet Taste | Active comparator | Behavioral: Dietary AdviceParticipants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that remain high in sweet taste, eg. fruit, low-calorie sweetened foods and drinks. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope. |
| Dietary Advice: Taste | Active comparator | Behavioral: Dietary AdviceParticipants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that remain high in taste, eg. nuts, foods and drinks flavoured with herbs and spices. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope. |
| Dietary Advice: No taste | Active comparator | Behavioral: Dietary AdviceParticipants will be asked to reduce their free sugar intakes to less than 5% TEI. To aid with this, they will be asked to reduce their intakes of foods and drinks high in free sugars, and replace these with foods low in sugars, that are low in taste, eg. foods and drinks that are plain-flavoured, wholegrains. The intervention will be provided to participants in written form, in an opaque sealed envelope. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- aged 18-65 years;
- able to provide consent and complete all study materials;
- consuming >5% of TEI from free sugars;
- residing in the South of England, and able to attend Bournemouth University for testing.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
- underweight (BMI <18.5);
- have pre-existing clinical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, eating disorders, Crohn's disease and other illness's leading to participants receiving external nutritional advice and dietary restrictions;
- have pre-existing medical conditions affecting swallow ability, taste and smell perception;
- currently following a specific dietary programme (e.g.: Slimming World);
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 AdviceDietary Advice | Behavioural | Dietary Advice: No taste, Dietary Advice: Sweet Taste, Dietary Advice: Taste |
Primary outcome
Free sugar intakes
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Percentage energy intake from free sugars, assessed using diet diaries
Adherence
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Adherence to the recommendations provided, assessed using diet diaries and self-reported adherence
13 secondary outcomes
Dietary Intakes
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Body weight
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
BMI
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Waist circumference
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Body fat percentage
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food preferences
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food perceptions
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food intakes
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Sweet food attitudes
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Adverse events
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Eating-based attitudes
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Subjective Quality of Life
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Barriers and facilitators to success
Time frame: Week 12
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 29 Jun 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42788189Appleton KM, Bielat AD, Guy DJ, Boxall LR, Karami N. Investigating a role for sweet taste in reducing free sugar intakes: results of a pilot randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2026 Sep 25:1-14. doi: 10.1017/S0007114526108307. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Anonymised study data will be available on completion of the trial from the PI
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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.
Katherine M Appleton principal investigator
Bournemouth University
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 Advice in people with Dietary Behaviour, run by Bournemouth University at 1 site in United Kingdom.
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 4 inclusion and 6 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 29 Jun 2026. 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 United Kingdom. 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?
Free sugar intakes (time frame: Baseline to week 12). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT05684757, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 29 Jun 2026.