Effects of a Hemp Seed-based Product on Appetite and Health Parameters

Participants in this arm will consume a standardized daily functional snack (grissini/cracker) containing hempseed for 8 weeks. Both groups will also receive general nutritional education on the Mediterranean diet model.

A specially formulated grissini/cracker snack containing hemp seeds. Participants will consume this snack daily for 8 weeks to evaluate its effects on metabolic and physiological parameters, thereby ingesting a specific amount of hemp seeds (the exact quantity to be determined based on the panel results).

Participants in this arm will consume a control snack (grissini/cracker) with 0% hempseed for 8 weeks. The snack matches the intervention product in appearance, weight, taste, and texture. Both groups will also receive general nutritional education on the Mediterranean diet model.

A control grissini/cracker snack containing 0% hemp seeds will be developed. To maintain a triple-blind protocol, this snack will be designed to be identical to the experimental snack in terms of appearance, weight, flavor, and texture. The snack in question will be consumed daily for a period of 8 weeks.

Hunger will be assessed using a 100-mm (10 cm) Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 to 100 mm (10 cm). Higher scores indicate greater subjective hunger.

Hunger: 0 = Not hungry at all, 100 = Extremely hungry.

Subjective fullness will be assessed using a 100-mm (10 cm) Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 to 100 mm (10 cm). Higher scores indicate greater subjective fullness.

Fullness: 0 = Not full at all, 100 = Extremely full.

Desire to eat will be assessed using a 100-mm (10 cm) Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 to 100 mm (10 cm). Higher scores indicate a greater desire to eat.

Desire to Eat: 0 = No desire to eat, 100 = Extremely strong desire to eat.

Body weight will be measured in kilograms (kg) using the Tanita BC-418 body composition analyzer. Changes in body weight from baseline throughout the intervention will be evaluated.

Body mass index (BMI) will be calculated using body weight measured with the Tanita BC-418 body composition analyzer and height measured using a stadiometer. BMI will be calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). Changes in BMI from baseline throughout the intervention will be evaluated.

Body fat percentage will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with the Tanita BC-418 body composition analyzer and expressed as a percentage (%). Changes in body fat percentage from baseline throughout the intervention will be evaluated.

Fat mass will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with the Tanita BC-418 body composition analyzer and expressed in kilograms (kg). Changes in fat mass from baseline throughout the intervention will be evaluated.

Fat-free mass (FFM) will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with the Tanita BC-418 body composition analyzer and expressed in kilograms (kg). Fat-free mass represents total body mass excluding fat mass. Changes in fat-free mass from baseline throughout the intervention will be evaluated.

Gastrointestinal symptoms will be assessed using the Turkish-adapted and validated version of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) (Turan et al., 2017). The scale consists of 15 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1-7), covering five symptom domains: abdominal pain, reflux, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation. Higher scores indicate more severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Total and/or domain scores will be evaluated according to the scale scoring guidelines.

Sleep quality will be assessed using the Turkish-adapted and validated version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Ağargün et al., 1996). The questionnaire consists of 10 main questions and evaluates seven components of sleep quality. Each component is scored from 0 to 3, yielding a global score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality, and scores greater than 5 indicate poor sleep quality.

Total cholesterol levels will be measured in fasting venous blood samples and expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Changes in total cholesterol levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels will be measured in fasting venous blood samples and expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Changes in LDL-C levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated. Higher levels generally indicate a less favorable lipid profile.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels will be measured in fasting venous blood samples and expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Changes in HDL-C levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated. Higher levels generally indicate a more favorable lipid profile.

Triglyceride levels will be measured in fasting venous blood samples and expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Changes in triglyceride levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated. Higher levels indicate an unfavorable lipid profile.

Fasting blood glucose levels will be measured in venous blood samples after at least 8 hours of fasting and expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Changes in fasting blood glucose levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated.

Fasting insulin levels will be measured in venous blood samples after at least 8 hours of fasting and expressed in microinternational units per milliliter (μIU/mL). Changes in fasting insulin levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels will be measured in venous blood samples and expressed as a percentage (%). HbA1c reflects average blood glucose levels over approximately the previous 2-3 months. Changes in HbA1c levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated.

Insulin resistance will be assessed using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), calculated using fasting insulin (μIU/mL) and fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) concentrations. HOMA-IR will be calculated as fasting insulin multiplied by fasting blood glucose divided by 405. Higher HOMA-IR values indicate greater insulin resistance.

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels will be measured in venous blood samples and expressed in units per liter (U/L). Changes in ALT levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated. Elevated ALT levels may indicate hepatocellular injury.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels will be measured in venous blood samples and expressed in units per liter (U/L). Changes in AST levels from baseline to the end of the intervention will be evaluated. Elevated AST levels may indicate tissue injury, including liver or muscle injury.