Satiety of High-Protein Ramen Noodles

The Role of High-Protein Instant Ramen Noodles in Inducing and Maintaining Satiety: Acute, Randomized, Crossover Study

The aim of this study is to determine if high-protein instant ramen noodles acutely increase satiety, reduce hunger, and improve blood sugar levels compared to standard instant ramen noodles in generally healthy young to middle aged adults. In addition, investigators aim to test if intake of high-protein instant ramen noodles reduces caloric intake at the next meal compared to standard instant ramen noodles.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Appetitive Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: High protein ramen; Other: Standard ramen

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to determine if high-protein instant ramen noodles acutely increase satiety, reduce hunger, and improve blood sugar levels compared to standard instant ramen noodles in generally healthy young to middle aged adults. In addition, investigators aim to test if intake of high-protein instant ramen noodles reduces caloric intake at the next meal compared to standard instant ramen noodles. Subjects meeting the eligibility criteria will be recruited and offered a 2-condition, randomized, crossover postprandial study. Participants will be asked to limit physical activity to a specified level, consume a standardized meal at night and report to the clinic after a 12 h overnight fast. At our clinic, in random order, participants will consume: 1) one portion of high-protein instant ramen noodles (71 g; Chef Woo, Borealis Foods); 2) an isocaloric, weight matched portion of standard instant ramen noodles. The participants will have to finish consuming the noodles within 15 minutes. Water will be provided at the time of breakfast and for the next two hours. In the 4-hours following the ramen breakfast, blood will be sampled at regular intervals (0 minutes - before starting the breakfast, and 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after stopping breakfast) for hunger and satiety hormones (i.e., glucagon like peptide-1, peptide-YY, and ghrelin), and glucose and insulin. Visual Analogue Scales will also be administered to assess subjective hunger and satiety. At 4-hours, a buffet-style lunch will be provided and caloric intake at the meal will be covertly assessed. Subjects will leave the clinic at this point. The process will be repeated for the second condition after at least 7 d washout period.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Lubbock, Texas, United States, 79409
      • Nutrition and Metabolic Health Initiative

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index 20-30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling or unable to have an IV catheter inserted
• Body weight <110 pounds
• Diabetes (any type)
• Fasting capillary glucose ≥100 mg/dL

• Unstable systemic medical condition

  •>10% change in body weight in the prior 3 months

• Medications that affect appetite or glucose regulation
• Prior bariatric surgery
• Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., unmedicated blood pressure >130/90 mmHg)
• Intolerance, dislike or allergy to the study food
• Current or recent (within 6 months) tobacco use
• High alcohol consumption (>14 drinks/week)
• Currently following a weight loss diet
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Currently pregnant or lactating
• Principal investigator discretion (e.g., disrespectful or inappropriate interactions with study staff

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: High protein ramen; Participants will be asked to limit physical activity to a specified level, consume a standardized meal at night and report to the clinic after a 12 h overnight fast. At our clinic, for this arm, participants will consume one portion of high-protein instant ramen noodles (71 g; Chef Woo, Borealis Foods). In the 4-hours following the ramen breakfast, blood will be sampled at regular intervals (0 minutes - before starting the breakfast, and 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after stopping breakfast) for hunger and satiety hormones (i.e., glucagon like peptide-1, peptide-YY, and ghrelin), and glucose and insulin. Visual Analogue Scales will also be administered to assess subjective hunger and satiety. At 4-hours, a buffet-style lunch will be provided and caloric intake at the meal will be covertly assessed.	Other: High protein ramen; Participants will be served one portion of high-protein instant ramen noodles [CHEF WOO Roasted Chicken Flavor Ramen Cup Noodles, Borealis Foods; 71 g]
Active Comparator: Standard ramen; Participants will be asked to limit physical activity to a specified level, consume a standardized meal at night and report to the clinic after a 12 h overnight fast. At our clinic, for this arm, participants will consume an isocaloric, weight matched portion of standard instant ramen noodles. In the 4-hours following the ramen breakfast, blood will be sampled at regular intervals (0 minutes - before starting the breakfast, and 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after stopping breakfast) for hunger and satiety hormones (i.e., glucagon like peptide-1, peptide-YY, and ghrelin), and glucose and insulin. Visual Analogue Scales will also be administered to assess subjective hunger and satiety. At 4-hours, a buffet-style lunch will be provided and caloric intake at the meal will be covertly assessed.	Other: Standard ramen; Participants will be served one portion of standard instant ramen noodles [RAMEN EXPRESS Chicken Flavor Ramen Cup Noodle Chef Woo, Borealis Foods; 71 g]

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Appetite Score Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Calculated as satiety + fullness + (100 - hunger) + (100 - prospective food consumption)/4. Questions 1-4 from the Visual Analogue Scale will be used to assess satiety, fullness, hunger and prospective food consumption and calculate the Appetite Score	0 to 180 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ghrelin Area Under the Curve (pg/mL*180 minutes)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) Area Under the Curve (pg/mL*180 minutes)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Peptide-YY (PYY) Area Under the Curve (pg/mL*180 minutes)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Glucose Area Under the Curve (mg/dL*180 minutes)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Insulin Area Under the Curve (mUI*180 minutes)	Measured in serum	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived Hunger Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived Satiety Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived Fullness Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Prospective Food Consumption Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Minimum ghrelin (pg/mL)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Peak Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (pg/mL)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Peak Peptide-YY (PYY) (pg/mL)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Peak Glucose (mg/dL)	Measured in plasma	0 to 180 minutes
Peak Insulin (mUI)	Measured in serum	0 to 180 minutes
Desire to eat something fatty Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Desire to eat something salty Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Desire to eat something savory Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Desire to eat something sweet Area Under the Curve (mm*180 minutes)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Energy intake at the buffet lunch (kcal)	Food consumed during the buffet lunch	Served approximately 3.5 hours following the ramen meal test
Perceived hunger at peak GLP1 (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived satiety at peak GLP1 (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived fullness at peak GLP1 (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived hunger at peak PYY (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived satiety at peak PYY (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived fullness at peak PYY (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived hunger at minimum ghrelin (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived satiety at minimum ghrelin (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes
Perceived fullness at minimum ghrelin (mm)	Assessed by visual analogue scale.	0 to 180 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Texas Tech University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nikhil Dhurandhar, Department of Nutritional Sciences Texas Tech University; Principal Investigator: Kristina Petersen, Department of Nutritional Sciences Texas Tech University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 2, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 2, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): February 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 23, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 22-0729

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No