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Allulose

Allulose Study

Effect of Novel Rare Sugar Allulose versus Sucrose on Glycaemic Response and Gastrointestinal Tolerability in Healthy Individuals: An Acute Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Crossover Trial

D-Allulose is a monosaccharide and a C3-epimer of D-fructose, recognized for its antihyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effects. It is rarely found in nature, occurring in small quantities in certain foods, such as figs and maple syrup. D-Allulose has about 70% of the sweetness of sucrose and contributes 0.2 kcal/g, compared to 4 kcal/g for sucrose. It is classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, allowing its safe use as a sugar substitute in food products.

 

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the rare sugar allulose, both alone and in combination with sucrose and another rare sugar, tagatose, on postprandial blood glucose levels and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in healthy individuals.

Participants’ blood glucose levels will be tracked using Freestyle Libre 3, an advanced continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS).

This study has received a favourable ethical opinion from the School Research Ethics Committee.

 

Who can take part in this study?

 The study will recruit 30 healthy adults aged 18-50 years old with a body mass index between 18-30 kg/m2.

Exclusion criteria

You are not eligible to take part in the study if any of the following applies to you:

  • Uncontrolled medical conditions (Hypertension and Diabetes)
  • Food Allergies and Highly Sensitive to Sweeteners
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women
  • BMI outside the range (18.5-30)
  • Taking high doses of vitamin C > 500 mg/d
  • Not having a smart phone

Please note a smart phone is required to download and use the FreeStyle Libre 3 app.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be invited to the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences for a screening visit, during which the study will be described in detail. The entire study will consist of one screening visit and six main visits.

 

What will taking part in the study involve?

Screening visit

  • Initial screening visit at the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition in the Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences (°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼).
  • The screening visit should take no more than 30 minutes and will include measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure.
  • You will be asked to download the FreeStyle Libre 3 app to your smartphone.

Main study visits

6 visits, each lasting 2-3 hours, over a period of three weeks.

  • For each visit, you must be in a fasted state (10-12 hour overnight fast: only water allowed, starting after dinner the evening before each visit).
  • Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS), FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor, will be fitted.
  • During each visit, you will be asked to consume a test drink.
  • Each visit will take up to 2-3 hours. After consuming the test drink, you will be free to wait in the visitor lounge for two hours while refraining from eating or drinking until you leave the unit.

     After each visit, changes to your GI symptoms will be tracked by sending out short questionnaires via email to be completed on up to 6 occasions.

 Study contact

Please contact nutritionvolunteers@reading.ac.uk for more information about this study.