Snack Bars for Satiety

Overseen By Bret Rust, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Indiana University

Must not be taking: Statins, GLP-1 agonists

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

150 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how two types of snack bars affect feelings of fullness. Participants will try both a high-carbohydrate snack bar and a high-protein snack bar to determine which one sustains fullness longer. Ideal candidates are generally healthy individuals aged 18 to 65, with a BMI (a measure of body fat based on height and weight) between 18.5 and 29.9. This study suits those without dietary restrictions or allergies to common ingredients like eggs, nuts, or dairy. The goal is to identify which snack bar better manages hunger. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to nutritional science and understand how different snacks impact hunger.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

If you are taking medications that affect appetite, blood lipids (fats in the blood), body composition, body weight, or food intake, you will need to stop them to participate in the trial. This includes medications like statins and GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that high-protein snack bars are generally safe to eat. Studies have found that these bars remain safe when stored in places like the pantry or fridge, indicating they don't become unsafe over time under normal conditions.

However, specific safety information for high-carbohydrate snack bars is not available. Since this trial uses snack bars already sold in stores, it suggests they are likely safe for most people.

Overall, people usually tolerate these snack bars well. The available data reports no major adverse reactions to them. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these snack bars for satiety because they explore how different nutrient profiles can influence feelings of fullness. Unlike standard snack options, which often prioritize taste or energy content, these bars specifically examine the effects of high carbohydrate versus high protein content on satiety. The high protein snack bar, in particular, stands out as it may offer a different mechanism for promoting fullness compared to traditional carbohydrate-heavy snacks. This could lead to new insights into managing hunger and supporting weight management goals.

What evidence suggests that this trial's snack bars could be effective for satiety?

This trial will compare the effects of high-protein snack bars and high-carbohydrate snack bars on feelings of fullness. Research has shown that high-protein snacks can help people feel full for longer periods. One study found that high-protein diets reduced hunger even when participants consumed a similar number of calories. Another study discovered that high-protein snacks like yogurt were more effective at controlling hunger than high-fat snacks. This suggests that high-protein snack bars, which participants in this trial may receive, might effectively manage appetite.

For high-carbohydrate snack bars, less specific information is available. Generally, carbohydrates provide quick energy but may not sustain fullness as long as protein. This trial aims to explore how these different types of snack bars affect feelings of fullness. ^{4 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults aged 18-65 with a BMI of 18.5 to 29.9, not engaging in strenuous exercise before visits and who can follow dietary instructions including eating standard frozen dinners the night before study visits at Indiana University--Bloomington.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18 and 65 years old.

BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m2 inclusive

I am in good health with no diabetes, heart disease, or recent cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

Vegans and vegetarians who do not consume eggs or milk products are excluded. Lacto-ovo vegetarians are eligible to apply for participation

Subject is currently known to be pregnant or is lactating

I have a condition like diabetes or heart disease that affects my diet, or I had cancer in the last 3 years.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Study Visit 1

Participants consume high carbohydrate snack bars and complete satiety assessments

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Washout Period

Participants engage in normal activity and refrain from strenuous exercise between study visits

1-14 days

Study Visit 2

Participants consume high protein snack bars and complete satiety assessments

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any adverse effects and overall satisfaction post-study

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High carbohydrate snack bar
• High protein snack bar

Trial Overview Researchers are comparing the effects on satiety between two snack bars: one high in carbohydrates and another high in protein. Participants will have two sessions where they eat the bars and report their feelings of hunger and fullness over a period of time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Two high protein snack bars conferring 150 Kcal each for a total of 300 Kcal. Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm involves a snack bar with a different nutrient profile than the comparator.

Group II: Two high carbohydrate snack bars conferring 150 Kcal each for a total of 300 Kcal. Active Control 1 Intervention

The snack bars are presented with ad libitum bottled water.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Indiana University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,063

Recruited

1,182,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4190484/

Effects of high-protein vs. high- fat snacks on appetite control ... These data suggest that, when compared to high-fat snacks, eating less energy dense, high-protein snacks like yogurt improves appetite control, ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464623001470

Daily ingestion of protein bars (with or without added fiber) ... These results suggest that the daily ingestion of protein bars increased overall energy intakes and may impact body mass over time.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07227701

A Comparison of Satiety Effects Two Commercially ... Experimental : Two high protein snack bars conferring 150 Kcal each for a total of 300 Kcal. This arm involves a snack bar with a different ...

4. ajcn.nutrition.org ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)29507-6/fulltext

A high-protein diet induces sustained reductions in appetite ... Results: Satiety was markedly increased with the isocaloric high-protein diet despite an unchanged leptin AUC. Mean (±SE) spontaneous energy intake ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/395925710_Exploring_the_effects_of_high_protein_versus_high_fat_snacks_on_satiety_gut_hormones_and_insulin_secretion_in_women_with_overweight_and_obesity_A_randomized_clinical_trial

Exploring the effects of high protein versus high fat snacks ... This study investigated the effects of high-protein, and high-fat snacks, specifically Greek yogurt, and peanuts, on satiety, gut hormones, and ...

6. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/17/8454

Safety Assessment of Organic High-Protein Bars during ... This study aimed to assess the safety characteristics of organic high-protein bars (HPB) during storage at ambient and refrigerated temperatures

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12191461/

A Comprehensive Study on the Nutritional Profile and Shelf ... High protein high fibre snack bars reduce food intake and improve short term glucose and insulin profiles compared with high fat snack bars.

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/362911703_Safety_Assessment_of_Organic_High-Protein_Bars_during_Storage_at_Ambient_and_Refrigerated_Temperatures

Safety Assessment of Organic High-Protein Bars during ... This study aimed to assess the safety characteristics of organic high-protein bars (HPB) during storage at ambient and refrigerated temperatures