NCT07213245

Metabolic Effects of Short-term Ultra-processed Food Intake (MEST-UPF)

Metabolic Effects of Short-term Ultra-processed Food Intake (MEST-UPF): a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Göteborg University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The overall aim of this project is to study the effects of short-term high ultra-processed food intake, compared to nutrient- and energy density matched low ultra-processed food (UPF) intake, on energy intake and appetite. A total of 24 men and women who meet all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be invited to participate. A randomized 2\*2 factorial four-way crossover study will be conducted at the Department of Internal medicine and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Gothenburg, comparing a high-UPF meal to a low-UPF meal also with high and/or low energy density. A supervised breakfast meal will be served, and postprandial blood samples and appetite measures will be collected continuously up to 4 hours after the breakfast meal. Subsequently, an ad libitum lunch meal will be served, and energy intake will be recorded.

Conditions

• Appetite
• Obesity and Obesity-related Medical Conditions

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Meal high in energy density, high in ultra-processed food	Meal high in energy density, high in ultra-processed food
OTHER	Meal high in energy density, low in ultra-processed food	Meal high in energy density, low in ultra-processed food
OTHER	Meal low in energy density, high in ultra-processed food	Meal low in energy density, high in ultra-processed food
OTHER	Meal low in energy density, low in ultra-processed food	Meal low in energy density, low in ultra-processed food

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-30
• Completion: 2026-04-30
• First posted: 2025-10-08
• Last updated: 2025-12-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sweden