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
Authors: Čad, E.M., Mars, M., Pretorius, L., van der Kruijssen, M., Tang, C.S., de Jong, H.B., Balvers, M., Appleton, K.M. and de Graaf, K.
Journal: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume: 123
Issue: 1
eISSN: 1938-3207
ISSN: 0002-9165
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041
Abstract:Background: Public health organizations currently recommend lowering the consumption of sweet-tasting foods, on the assumption that a lower exposure to sweet-tasting foods lowers preferences for sweet taste, decreasing sugar and energy intake, and aiding obesity prevention. However, empirical data supporting this narrative are lacking. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a 6-mo low, regular, and high dietary sweet taste exposure on liking for sweet taste. Methods: In a parallel-groups randomized controlled intervention study, 180 healthy adults (female/male: 123/57; aged: 35 ± 15 y; body mass index (in kg/m2): 23 ± 3) were provided with dietary advice and ∼50% daily energy needs for 6 mo, where 7% (low sweet taste exposure, n = 61), 35% (regular sweet taste exposure, n = 60), or 80% (high sweet taste exposure, n = 59) provided foods and beverages were sweet tasting from sugars, low-calorie sweeteners, fruits and dairy. Before, at 6 mo, and at a 4-mo follow-up, sweet taste liking, sweet taste intensity perception, food choice, energy intake, body weight, markers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and adverse events were assessed. Results: Sweet food consumption varied between groups over the intervention period (self-reported dietary measures (percentage energy, percentage weight): smallest χ2(16) = 59.4, P < 0.001; urinary markers for sucrose, sucralose, and saccharin: smallest χ2(10) = 21.0, P = 0.02). However, from baseline to month 6, no differences between groups were found in sweet taste liking (χ2(40) = 37.9, P = 0.56), sweet taste intensity perception (χ2(40) = 20.7, P = 0.99), sweet food choice (χ2(10) = 10.1, P = 0.43), energy intake (χ2(10) = 12.7, P = 0.24), body weight (χ2(10) = 14.3, P = 0.16), markers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (largest χ2(10) = 15.9, P = 0.10) or adverse events. After the intervention, participants also spontaneously returned to baseline levels of sweet food intake. Conclusions: In the current trial, altering exposure to sweet-tasting foods did not change sweet taste liking, nor other outcomes. These results do not support public health advice to reduce exposure to sweet-tasting foods, independent of other relevant factors such as energy density and food form. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04497974.
Source: Scopus
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.
Authors: Čad, E.M., Mars, M., Pretorius, L., van der Kruijssen, M., Tang, C.S., de Jong, H.B., Balvers, M., Appleton, K.M. and de Graaf, K.
Journal: Am J Clin Nutr
Volume: 123
Issue: 1
Pages: 101073
eISSN: 1938-3207
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041
Abstract:BACKGROUND: Public health organizations currently recommend lowering the consumption of sweet-tasting foods, on the assumption that a lower exposure to sweet-tasting foods lowers preferences for sweet taste, decreasing sugar and energy intake, and aiding obesity prevention. However, empirical data supporting this narrative are lacking. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a 6-mo low, regular, and high dietary sweet taste exposure on liking for sweet taste. METHODS: In a parallel-groups randomized controlled intervention study, 180 healthy adults (female/male: 123/57; aged: 35 ± 15 y; body mass index (in kg/m2): 23 ± 3) were provided with dietary advice and ∼50% daily energy needs for 6 mo, where 7% (low sweet taste exposure, n = 61), 35% (regular sweet taste exposure, n = 60), or 80% (high sweet taste exposure, n = 59) provided foods and beverages were sweet tasting from sugars, low-calorie sweeteners, fruits and dairy. Before, at 6 mo, and at a 4-mo follow-up, sweet taste liking, sweet taste intensity perception, food choice, energy intake, body weight, markers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and adverse events were assessed. RESULTS: Sweet food consumption varied between groups over the intervention period (self-reported dietary measures (percentage energy, percentage weight): smallest χ2(16) = 59.4, P < 0.001; urinary markers for sucrose, sucralose, and saccharin: smallest χ2(10) = 21.0, P = 0.02). However, from baseline to month 6, no differences between groups were found in sweet taste liking ( χ2(40) = 37.9, P = 0.56), sweet taste intensity perception (χ2(40) = 20.7, P = 0.99), sweet food choice (χ2(10) = 10.1, P = 0.43), energy intake (χ2(10) = 12.7, P = 0.24), body weight (χ2(10) = 14.3, P = 0.16), markers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (largest χ2(10) = 15.9, P = 0.10) or adverse events. After the intervention, participants also spontaneously returned to baseline levels of sweet food intake. CONCLUSIONS: In the current trial, altering exposure to sweet-tasting foods did not change sweet taste liking, nor other outcomes. These results do not support public health advice to reduce exposure to sweet-tasting foods, independent of other relevant factors such as energy density and food form. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04497974.
Source: PubMed
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
Authors: Cad, E.M., Mars, M., Pretorius, L., van der Kruijssen, M., Tang, C.S., de Jong, H.B.T., Balvers, M., Appleton, K.M. and de Graaf, K.
Journal: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
Volume: 123
Issue: 1
eISSN: 1938-3207
ISSN: 0002-9165
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041
Source: Web of Science (Lite)
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
Authors: Appleton, K., Tang, C., Pretorius, L., Cad, E., Mars, M., de Jong, H., van der Kruijssen, M., Balvers, M. and de Graaf, K.
Journal: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher: American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.
eISSN: 1938-3207
ISSN: 0002-9165
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041
Source: Manual
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.
Authors: Čad, E.M., Mars, M., Pretorius, L., van der Kruijssen, M., Tang, C.S., de Jong, H.B., Balvers, M., Appleton, K.M. and de Graaf, K.
Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition
Volume: 123
Issue: 1
Pages: 101073
eISSN: 1938-3207
ISSN: 0002-9165
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.041
Abstract:Background
Public health organizations currently recommend lowering the consumption of sweet-tasting foods, on the assumption that a lower exposure to sweet-tasting foods lowers preferences for sweet taste, decreasing sugar and energy intake, and aiding obesity prevention. However, empirical data supporting this narrative are lacking.Objectives
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a 6-mo low, regular, and high dietary sweet taste exposure on liking for sweet taste.Methods
In a parallel-groups randomized controlled intervention study, 180 healthy adults (female/male: 123/57; aged: 35 ± 15 y; body mass index (in kg/m2): 23 ± 3) were provided with dietary advice and ∼50% daily energy needs for 6 mo, where 7% (low sweet taste exposure, n = 61), 35% (regular sweet taste exposure, n = 60), or 80% (high sweet taste exposure, n = 59) provided foods and beverages were sweet tasting from sugars, low-calorie sweeteners, fruits and dairy. Before, at 6 mo, and at a 4-mo follow-up, sweet taste liking, sweet taste intensity perception, food choice, energy intake, body weight, markers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and adverse events were assessed.Results
Sweet food consumption varied between groups over the intervention period (self-reported dietary measures (percentage energy, percentage weight): smallest χ2(16) = 59.4, P < 0.001; urinary markers for sucrose, sucralose, and saccharin: smallest χ2(10) = 21.0, P = 0.02). However, from baseline to month 6, no differences between groups were found in sweet taste liking ( χ2(40) = 37.9, P = 0.56), sweet taste intensity perception (χ2(40) = 20.7, P = 0.99), sweet food choice (χ2(10) = 10.1, P = 0.43), energy intake (χ2(10) = 12.7, P = 0.24), body weight (χ2(10) = 14.3, P = 0.16), markers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (largest χ2(10) = 15.9, P = 0.10) or adverse events. After the intervention, participants also spontaneously returned to baseline levels of sweet food intake.Conclusions
In the current trial, altering exposure to sweet-tasting foods did not change sweet taste liking, nor other outcomes. These results do not support public health advice to reduce exposure to sweet-tasting foods, independent of other relevant factors such as energy density and food form. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04497974.Source: Europe PubMed Central