The SAVOR Study: Appetite and Physiological Responses (SAVOR)

June 3, 2026 updated by: Darel Toh, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation

Seniors' Appetite: Vibrant Opportunities for Revitalization (SAVOR)

The study aims to identify key physiological factors that differentiate older adults with healthy appetites from those experiencing appetite decline. The investigators hypothesize that seniors experiencing appetite decline will exhibit distinct oro-sensory, gastrointestinal, and hormonal profiles compared to seniors with healthy appetites, suggesting underlying biological mechanisms contributing to reduced appetite.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Appetite decline in older adults, or anorexia of aging, is a prevalent geriatric syndrome associated with decreased quality of life, increased risk of malnutrition, and accelerated decline in health. While current nutritional guidelines often emphasize increasing nutrient density, these strategies often fail to address the root causes of diminished appetite. Emerging research highlights the critical role of age-related physiological changes, particularly dysregulation of the gut-brain axis, altered sensory perception, and hormonal imbalances, in suppressing appetite. Notably, existing evidence is largely derived from Western populations, which may not fully reflect the influence of cultural and lifestyle factors on appetite in Asian seniors. This leaves a significant gap in understanding and addressing appetite loss within this specific demographic. This study aims to address this gap by comprehensively investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying appetite regulation in Asian seniors, to identify key determinants that differentiate individuals with healthy appetites from those experiencing a decline. By assessing the relationships between oro-sensory function, gastric dynamics, neuro-hormonal regulation, gut microbiome composition and subjective appetite, this study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the biological pathways driving appetite differences in this population. The findings of this study will lay the groundwork for future research aimed at developing culturally sensitive and effective interventions that can restore appetite, improve nutritional status, and ultimately enhance the health span and quality of life for older adults in Singapore and beyond. Furthermore, this work has the potential to drive innovation in the food and nutrition industry, leading to the development of tailored products and dietary strategies that effectively address the unique nutritional needs of aging populations, ultimately impacting public health recommendations and policies related to senior nutrition.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Postmenopausal female
  • Aged 65-74 years
  • Habitual breakfast consumer (consumes breakfast between 7am to 10am)
  • Willingness to consume meals and follow intervention protocol
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • BMI ≥ 27.5
  • Diagnosed with medical condition that may influence appetite or microbiome (e.g. diabetes, thyroid disorders, gastrointestinal diseases)
  • Currently taking any medications or supplements that may influence appetite or the microbiome (e.g. probiotics, antibiotics, appetite stimulants/suppressants) one month prior to their first visit in consultation with study physician, PI and study team
  • Following a special diet for weight management (e.g. low-calorie, low carbohydrate)
  • History of bariatrics surgery
  • Intentional attempt to change body weight or composition
  • History of severe vasovagal syncope (blackouts or near faints) following blood draw
  • Drug abuse within last 5 years
  • Excessive alcoholic beverage consumption > 2 servings per day (1 serving defined as 360 mL beer, 150 mL wine or 45 mL distilled spirits)
  • Smoking (cigarette, e-cigarette, cigar, pipe, vape)
  • Engaging in habitual vigorous physical activity (as defined by physical activity questionnaire-PAQ)
  • Loose teeth or jaw pain
  • Not missing > 2 non-wisdom molars
  • Involvement in other clinical studies that may influence the outcome of the study
  • A study team member or their immediate family member

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Chicken porridge
Rice congee with shredded chicken and vegetable oil
Other: Shredded Chicken Congee
This is a mixed meal tolerance test intended to elicit gut hormone responses reflective of real-world dietary patterns.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ad Libitum Lunch
Time Frame: Participants will be given 30 minutes to consume the meal until they are comfortably full, 180 minutes after the start of the intervention.
Participants will be asked to eat as much of the stir-fried beehoon as they want until they are comfortably full, to measure the exact calorie intake by weighing the food before and after eating.
Participants will be given 30 minutes to consume the meal until they are comfortably full, 180 minutes after the start of the intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Palatability questionnaire
Time Frame: Administered after consuming test meal and after consuming the ad libitum meal.
Palatability appetite questionnaire, rated on a visual analogue scale is a psychometric assessment tool where participants rate their subjective sensory experience-such as taste, smell, or pleasantness-by marking a point along a continuous 100 mm line anchored by opposing extremes (e.g., "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant").
Administered after consuming test meal and after consuming the ad libitum meal.
Appetite hormones
Time Frame: Blood samples will be collected at timepoints (t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes)
GLP-1, PYY and Acyl-ghrelin will be used to measure hormones related to appetite.
Blood samples will be collected at timepoints (t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes)
Subjective Appetite Questionnaire
Time Frame: Measurement is taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 10, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes
A subjective appetite questionnaire utilizes a Visual Analogue Scale to quantify a person's current metabolic state by measuring four key sensations: hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and prospective food consumption.
Measurement is taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 10, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes
Gastric Ultrasound
Time Frame: Measurements will be taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 15, 45, 105 and 165 minutes
Gastric ultrasound will measure the gastric emptying rate postprandially.
Measurements will be taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 15, 45, 105 and 165 minutes
Stool collected using the OMNIgene and OMNImet
Time Frame: Baseline stool sample will be collected once between screening and intervention day.
Stool sample will be collected in the OMNIgene-GUT and OMNImet-GUT tube for measurements that may include microbiome profiling, untargeted and targeted metabolome (e.g. bile acids and short-chain fatty acids profiling).
Baseline stool sample will be collected once between screening and intervention day.
Olfactory Acuity (SCENTinel)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Olfactory acuity will be assessed using a simple, non-invasive SCENTinel rapid smell test. Participants will be presented with test cards containing various odors, and will be asked to detect, rate, and identify the odors. The test assesses the participant's ability to perceive and recognize smells, providing information on their overall sense of smell.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Taste Acuity Test (WETT)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10-15 minutes
The Waterless Empirical Taste Test (WETT) is a sensory method for assessing how well participants can recognise and detect basic tastes. Participants will taste pre-moistened, paper-based test strips for the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10-15 minutes
Blood plasma (Cytokines)
Time Frame: t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes
Blood samples may also be analyzed for indicators of inflammation including cytokines testing
t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes
Blood plasma (Bile acids and short-chain fatty acids profiling)
Time Frame: t= -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes
Blood samples collected may be used to analyse biomarkers related to nutrition and digestive health e.g. bile acid and short-chain fatty acids profiling
t= -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes
Bite Strength
Time Frame: Baseline measurement that may be administered once during screening or test session, as schedule and equipment permits. Takes only a few minutes.
Bite strength will be measured using a bite force device (non-invasive) that records the maximum force a participant can exert while biting. Multiple measurements will be taken with rest periods in between to prevent fatigue.
Baseline measurement that may be administered once during screening or test session, as schedule and equipment permits. Takes only a few minutes.
Tongue Strength (Tongue Pressure)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement that may be administered once during screening or test session, as schedule and equipment permits. Takes approximately 5 minutes.
Tongue pressure will be measured using a device equipped with a disposable air-filled bulb placed between the tongue and the hard palate. Participants will be instructed to press the bulb with their tongue as firmly as possible for a few seconds. Multiple measurements will be taken with rest periods in between to ensure accuracy and prevent fatigue.
Baseline measurement that may be administered once during screening or test session, as schedule and equipment permits. Takes approximately 5 minutes.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Health and Lifestyle questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline measurement that is completed during screening visit
This questionnaire is to evaluate the participant's eligibility for the study. It consist of participant information, medical and health history, lifestyle and diet, physical activity.
Baseline measurement that is completed during screening visit
3-day food record
Time Frame: Administered between screening and actual test session, to be completed on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend.
A 3-day food record is a detailed diary where participants document everything they eat and drink over two weekdays and one weekend day to provide an accurate snapshot of their typical nutritional intake. This is done using household measures (or digital scales), where exact portion sizes, cooking methods and brand names of all items are used.
Administered between screening and actual test session, to be completed on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend.
Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening.
The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) is a validated 15-item questionnaire used to assess the presence and severity of common digestive issues across five key areas: abdominal pain, reflux, diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion. Participants rate each symptom on a 7-point Likert scale-ranging from "no discomfort" to "very severe discomfort"-to provide a quantifiable measurement of their gastrointestinal well-being.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening.
Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
The Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ) is a brief, 8-item screening tool designed to predict future weight loss by assessing a participant's appetite and dietary habits. It asks about sensations like hunger, how quickly a participant feel full, and how food tastes to determine if a participant is at risk for nutritional deficiencies or significant weight changes over the coming months.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a validated 19-item questionnaire used to measure sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month timeframe. It evaluates seven key areas-including sleep duration, how long it takes to fall asleep, sleep disruptions, and daytime tiredness-to generate a single overall score that differentiates between "good" and "poor" sleepers in clinical research.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Time Frame: Administered once during screening, takes approximately 5 minutes
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item questionnaire-often shortened to a 15-item version-specifically designed to screen for depression in older adults. Unlike general depression scales, it uses a simple "yes" or "no" format and focuses primarily on psychological and mood-related symptoms rather than physical complaints (like aches or fatigue), which can often overlap with normal aging or other medical conditions.
Administered once during screening, takes approximately 5 minutes
Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) is a 33-item psychometric scale used to assess the distinct psychological factors and eating styles that can lead to overeating or weight gain. It breaks eating behaviors down into three core subscales - emotional eating, external eating and restrained eating.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10-15 minutes
The Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ) is a computer-based tool used in behavioral research to measure different psychological components of food preference and appetite. It uses a series of food images to evaluate two distinct aspects of food reward: explicit liking and implicit wanting. The tool categorizes these preferences across different food characteristics, specifically comparing high-fat vs. low-fat foods, and sweet vs. savory tastes.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10-15 minutes
Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) is a validated psychometric tool used to measure three distinct dimensions of human eating behavior and cognitive dietary control. It evaluates eating habits across three primary subscales: cognitive restraint, disinhibition and hunger
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Time Frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is a validated tool that measures a person's physical activity levels over a 7-day period. It records the total time spent across four distinct intensities: vigorous activity (like running or heavy lifting), moderate activity (like steady cycling), walking, and weekday sitting time. These tracked minutes are converted into a standard metabolic score (MET-minutes/week), which is then used to classify an individual's overall physical activity level into one of three distinct categories: Low, Moderate, or High.
Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Darel Toh, PhD, Clinical Nutrition Research Centre

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 20, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 3, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2025-133

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings