Evaluating the Brain's Response to Natural Versus Artificial Sweetener in Women Who Have Had an Eating Disorder

March 7, 2016 updated by: University of California, San Diego

The Evaluation of Brain Neuronal Activity in Response to Natural (Sucrose) and Artificial (Sucralose) Taste Stimuli- Does Caloric Content Matter to the Brain?

This study will compare the brain's ability to distinguish between natural and artificial sweeteners in women with and without a history of eating disorders.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Eating disorders often result in serious illness and can lead to prolonged health complications, including heart and kidney problems, digestive disorders, nerve damage, and low blood pressure. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are examples eating disorders. People with anorexia nervosa do not eat enough in fear of becoming overweight, resulting in extreme weight loss. People with bulimia nervosa first binge by consuming hundreds or even thousands of calories within a very short time period and then purge by either vomiting or using laxatives. Women are at a greater risk of developing the disorders, particularly when they are between the ages of 12 and 24. Treatments for eating disorders typically include nutrition counseling, psychotherapy, and medication. To better understand eating disorders, this study will compare the brain's ability to distinguish between natural and artificial sweeteners in women with and without a history of eating disorders.

All participants in this observational study will be administered a taste test to determine if they can consciously differentiate between a sugar solution and an artificially sweetened solution. Participants may also perform several brief computerized tests, ranging from 3 to 10 minutes each, to evaluate thinking, memory, and information processing skills. Participants who cannot tell the difference between the solutions will undergo a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan, which will take pictures of the brain and blood flowing through the brain. Prior to the scan, blood and urine collection may occur, and participants may complete two additional computerized tests. The scan will require 60 to 90 minutes to complete. During the scan, participants will hold two thin tubes in their mouth. At various intervals, these tubes will deliver 1 ml of liquid containing either sugar water or an artificial sweetener into each participant's mouth. A screen projection of abstract pictures will also be shown to each participant throughout the scan, either before the liquid is delivered or alone. This study will require a 6- to 9-hour time commitment. The results from this study may provide valuable information regarding anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and may eventually lead to the development of new and better treatment options for these complex and serious disorders.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
        • UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study will include women between the ages of 18 and 45 who have recovered from anorexia or bulimia nervosa for over 1 year and have no current medical problems.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Right-handed
  • Recovered from anorexia or bulimia nervosa at least 12 months prior to study entry
  • Met DSM criteria for anorexia or bulimia nervosa at one time within 3 years prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Currently taking any medication (except birth control)
  • Any current mental illness
  • Any metal in body

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
1
Women who are healthy controls
Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan
Healthy control women, recovered bulimia women, and also recovered anorexia women will complete specific tasks in an fMRI scanner that will take up to 60 minutes.
Other Names:
  • Neurobiology of Eating Disorders
  • fMRI imaging of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
2
Women who have recovered from bulimia
Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan
Healthy control women, recovered bulimia women, and also recovered anorexia women will complete specific tasks in an fMRI scanner that will take up to 60 minutes.
Other Names:
  • Neurobiology of Eating Disorders
  • fMRI imaging of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
3
Women who have recovered from anorexia
Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan
Healthy control women, recovered bulimia women, and also recovered anorexia women will complete specific tasks in an fMRI scanner that will take up to 60 minutes.
Other Names:
  • Neurobiology of Eating Disorders
  • fMRI imaging of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of California, San Diego

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Watler Kaye, MD, University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

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

May 1, 2005

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2008

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 14, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 14, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

August 16, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 8, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 7, 2016

Last Verified

April 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R01MH046001 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • DATR A3-NSS (Indiana University)

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.

Clinical Trials on Eating Disorders

Clinical Trials on Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Paraguay

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe