Sugar ingestion patterns
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to uncover metabolic responses to rapid vs. slow ingestion rates of sucrose.
IRAS ID
352907
Contact name
Emma Vincent
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study explores how the speed of sugar consumption affects our body’s metabolism, particularly the levels of fat (triglycerides) in the blood after a meal. High triglyceride levels are a risk factor for diseases like heart disease and diabetes, so understanding how sugar intake influences these levels is important for public health.
When we eat sugar, our body uses it for energy, but excess sugar can be turned into fat through a process called de novo lipogenesis (DNL). This increases triglyceride levels and may raise long-term health risks. Animal studies suggest that consuming sugar rapidly may overwhelm the body’s ability to process it, but it is unclear if this happens in humans.
This study will compare the effects of consuming sugar rapidly (in one large drink) versus slowly (spread out over time) in healthy men and women aged 18–65 years. Participants will drink sugar-based test drinks followed by a high-fat meal. Blood samples will be collected over 6-7 hours to measure triglyceride levels, sugar oxidation (how sugar is used for energy), and fat production through DNL. Changes in genes within immune cells will also be studied.
Participants will visit the lab once every 4 weeks for a total of three visits (one for each test drink: rapid sugar, slow sugar, and water as a control). Each visit lasts about 6-7 hours, but participants can live normally between visits. The study will take approximately 3 months to complete.
The research is funded by the Wellcome Trust, sponsored by the University of Bristol, and will take place at the University of Bath. The results will provide insights into how sugar consumption affects metabolism and long-term health, helping to inform dietary recommendations to reduce disease risk.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0266
Date of REC Opinion
1 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion