Developing Biomarkers of Dietary Intake: Dose Dependent Measurement of Sugar Intake

Study Description:

This study will be an inpatient study in which highly specific diets will be fed to volunteers for approximately 12 weeks and stable isotopes will be measured in blood, hair, and adipose. Ultimately, the goal is to develop biomarkers to be used to validate food intake patterns in outpatient clinical and epidemiological studies.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this study is to validate the use of stable isotope biomarkers as representatives of specific dietary intake patterns.

Secondary objectives include evaluation of the effect of the amount of soda on urinary sucrose and fructose excretion, extracellular vesicles levels and content, and gut microbiota.

Endpoints (Outcomes):

Primary Endpoints: Primary Endpoints: Changes in the blood, hair, and adipose carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) stable isotope ratio from baseline to 12 weeks.

Secondary Endpoints: Changes in urinary sucrose and fructose excretion, extracellular vesicles levels and content, gut microbiota from baseline to 12 weeks.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Body mass index less than or equal to 35 kg/m^2 to minimize the impact of body size on isotope measurements.
• Women and men between the ages of 18-65 years will be recruited for this study
• Healthy, as determined by medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.

Exclusion criteria

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL
• Alopecia totalis or inability to grow hair (at least one inch of hair required to obtain sample)
• Use of medication affecting metabolism and appetite in the last three months
• Medically- or self-imposed dietary restrictions that would limit a participant s ability/willingness to consume the diet to which they are randomized
• Current pregnancy, pregnancy within the past 6 months or currently lactating
• History or clinical manifestations of acute or chronic disorders or conditions that may affect appetite or EE, (such as, but not limited to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, Cushing s disease, thyroid disorders, coccidiomycoses)
• Gastrointestinal disease, including inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Chron s disease and ulcerative colitis), malabsorption syndromes (e.g. celiac disease), gastric ulcer (active) which may alter metabolism or absorption of study food
• Current, unstable medical conditions such as hepatitis, renal insufficiency, cancer requiring treatment in the last 5 years (except for nonmelanoma skin cancers or cancers that have clearly been cured), or central nervous system disorders etc. as assessed by history and physical exam
• Diagnosis of binge eating disorder, anorexia-nervosa, or bulimia-nervosa
• Evidence of alcohol abuse as defined by greater than or equal to 8-point score on the Alcohol consumption screening AUDIT questionnaire in adults
• Current use of tobacco products that exceed Low Dependence on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Tool (score greater than 2)
• Current use of drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, or heroin
• Any condition not specifically mentioned above that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study or prove unsafe for participation.
• Weight change of plus or minus 5% in the last 3 months, per self report.
• Non-English speaking
• Inability of participant to understand and the unwillingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Conditions not specifically mentioned above may serve as criteria for exclusion at the discretion of the investigators. Additionally, potential subjects might be excluded if they demonstrate a style of interpersonal relationships that would inhibit successful completion of the study.

Non-English-speaking subjects as a population will be excluded from participation in this protocol. One of the secondary hypotheses of the protocol relates to a battery of psychological questionnaires and performances tests which are administered to the volunteers at the beginning and end of the study. There are currently no validated, translated forms of these questionnaires and tests available; therefore, we will restrict enrollment to English speaking subjects only.