The Effect of the Glycemic Load of Meals on the Cognition and Mood of Older Adults

The Effect of the Glycemic Load of Meals on the Cognition and Mood of Older Adults With Differences in Glucose Tolerance

A lower rather than a higher glycemic load (GL) meal has been shown to benefit cognition and mood, however, the data in older adults and those most prone to cognitive dysfunction, is limited and conflicting. One explanation is that the GL of a meal may interact with a person's pre-existing glucose tolerance (GT).

As older adults have a higher incidence of glucose tolerance and are more likely to experience memory problems the present study considers the interaction between the GL of meal in those with better or poorer GT.

The population studied will not have a history of diabetes or dementia. A battery of cognitive tests will be administered after meals sweetened with one of three sugars known to vary in the rate that they release glucose into the blood stream.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Dementia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Isomaltulose; Dietary supplement: Sucrose; Dietary supplement: Glucose

Detailed Description

On day one subjects will take an oral glucose tolerance test and will then be divided into four groups depending on their glucose tolerance (how long values remain raised) and the tendency for values to subsequently fall to low values.

On a second occasion 155 healthy older adults, aged 45-80 years, will be randomly assigned to receive either a glucose, sucrose or isomaltulose based meal. All meals are matched on macronutrient composition and differ only in glycemic load. Cognitive performance and mood will be assessed 30, 105 and 180 minutes after breakfast. Measures of memory, attention, reaction times and mood will be taken.

The response to the three meals will be contrasted in those with different glucose profiles on day one

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 155
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Wales
    • Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, sa2 8pp
      • Psychology, Swansea University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 45 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy adults of 45 to 80 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Dementia
• Liver disease
• Gastro-intestinal problems

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Better glucose tolerance; Take meals with isomaltulose, sucrose or glucose	Dietary supplement: Isomaltulose; Isomaltulose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Sucrose; Sucrose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Glucose; Glucose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance
Other: Better glucose tolerance / Levels fall; Take meals with isomaltulose, sucrose or glucose	Dietary supplement: Isomaltulose; Isomaltulose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Sucrose; Sucrose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Glucose; Glucose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance
Other: Poorer tolerance levels remain high; Take meals with isomaltulose, sucrose or glucose	Dietary supplement: Isomaltulose; Isomaltulose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Sucrose; Sucrose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Glucose; Glucose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance
Other: Poorer glucose tolerance / Levels fall; Take meals with isomaltulose, sucrose or glucose	Dietary supplement: Isomaltulose; Isomaltulose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Sucrose; Sucrose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance; Dietary supplement: Glucose; Glucose sweetened meal will be given to each of four groups who differ in their glucose tolerance

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in episodic memory	Episodic memory assessed by asking subjects to recall a list of words	30, 105, 180 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in mood	Visual analogues scales used to report mood at six points during study	30, 105, 180 minutes

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in reaction Times	1,2,4 and 8 lamps will be monitored and the time taken to extinguish will be measured	30, 105, 180 minutes
Change in vigilance	Digits will be generated at rate of 100 per minute. Subjects indicate when they see either three odd or three even in a row	30, 105 and 180 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Swansea University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Benton, DSc, Swansea University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 9, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): April 29, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 11, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 10, 2014
• Last Verified: December 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: memory; Glycemic load; mood
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Dementia
• Other Study ID Numbers: DB-0413