NCT06874400

Comparison of Dairy and Plant-based Alternatives in Adolescents and Older Adults

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 160 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Toronto · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 14 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of the Dairy vs Plant study is to compare the effects of dairy and plant-based alternative products on blood sugar regulation and nutrient quality in adolescents and older adults. We are inviting healthy, non-diabetic participants aged 14-18 and 60-75, both males and females to participate. The study will take place in the Nutrition Intervention Center located at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto St. George campus. Participants will be asked to come to the Nutrition Intervention Center on 3 separate occasions: once for an in-person screening lasting approximately 30min and 2 times for study visits lasting approximately 2.5 hrs each. The entire study will take a minimum of 2 weeks to complete. You will be asked to fast for 12hrs (overnight) prior to each study visit. You will also be instructed to maintain the same dietary and sleep patterns, refrain from exercise and alcohol consumption the days before the study visits. During these study visits, you will be asked to consume either a dairy or a plant-based alternative product, as well as a pizza meal. You will periodically fill out questionnaires rating your feelings and perceptions and provide blood samples through finger pricks and intravenously through forearm to measure blood sugar, insulin, hormones, and amino acids. You will be compensated for your time and travel expenses.

Conditions

• Glycemic Response to Feeding in Healthy Participants
• Postprandial Amino Acid Concentrations
• Appetite Regulation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Dairy	The dairy products that participants will be required to consume include: 1) Trial 1: 2% cow's milk; 2) Trial 2: dairy yogurt; 3) Trial 3: 2% cottage cheese; 4) Trial 4: 2% cow's milk; and 5) Trial 5: isolated whey protein beverage. Participants will only be enrolled in 1 of the 5 trials; as such, they will only consume the 1 dairy product in that trial.
OTHER	Plant-based alternative	The plant-based products that participants will be required to consume include: 1) Trial 1: soy beverage; 2) Trial 2: plant-based yogurt; 3) Trial 3: tofu; 4) Trial 4: 2% simulated milk; and 5) Trial 5: isolated soy protein beverage. Participants will only be enrolled in 1 of the 5 trials; as such, they will only consume the 1 plant-based alternative product in that trial.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-01
• Primary completion: 2027-04-01
• Completion: 2028-04-01
• First posted: 2025-03-13
• Last updated: 2025-03-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada