Crave Crush Neuroimaging Study

Oregon Research Behavioral Intervention Strategies

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Crave Crush; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry; Other

Identifiers

NCT02949102

FOUR002

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the research is to test whether a gymnemic acids (GA) lozenge will reduce reward region response to intake of high-sugar food and ad lib candy intake and whether the GA lozenge reduced reward region response to anticipated intake of high-sugar food and high-sugar food pictures relative to a placebo lozenge.

Full description

Test the hypothesis that an acute dose of Crave Crush will produce greater reductions in reward region response to a taste of a high-sugar/high-fat beverage and anticipated receipt of this beverage than a placebo dose.

Test the hypothesis that a dose of Crave Crush will result in reduced ad lib candy intake while the participants complete a survey after the fMRI scan. Participants will receive a second dose of Crave Crush or placebo. They will then be placed in a room to complete a few surveys. A bowl of candy will be placed on the table. Participants will be told that the candy is left over from their assessment and that they are free to have as much as they like, because the candy must be discarded after each participant.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Between 18 and 50 years old
• report having a sweet tooth
• report desire to lose weight
• Body Mass Index between 18 and 40

Exclusion criteria

• major psychiatric disorders
• serious health problems (e.g., diabetes)
• habitual use of psychoactive drugs or medications
• contraindications for MRI scanning (e.g., ferromagnetic braces)
• gluten or lactose intolerance
• a vegan diet.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Crave Crush

Experimental group

Description:

Crave Crush is a plant-based tablet that alters taste perception by affecting sweet taste receptors on the tongue.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Crave Crush

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The placebo tablet is comparable in taste and is comprised primarily of sorbitol.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo