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Metabolomics-Driven Insights Into Ultra-Processed Foods

This study is looking for generally healthy adults, aged 20 to 65, with a BMI between 18.5 and 39.9, who do not have food allergies or follow restrictive diets. The goal is to understand how different types of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) affect your body at a molecular level. You would eat specific diets provided by the study: a control diet without UPFs, and then three different UPF test diets focusing on starchy foods/refined grains, meat/fish/bread products, or dairy products. Researchers will compare blood samples taken after each diet to find specific markers that show what kinds of UPFs you've eaten. The study plans to enroll 40 participants, but its current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 40 participants. You will complete three 2-week dietary phases, each including a control diet and a specific UPF test diet.
What's involved
You will receive all study-provided meals and snacks during the diet phases. You will also attend weekly clinic visits for assessments and blood sample collections.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Blood samples will be measured at Day 0, Day 7, and Day 14 of each dietary intervention period.

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NCT07717970

Metabolomics-Driven Insights Into Ultra-Processed Foods

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 20–65Interventional
Brigham and Women's Hospital
~40 participants
Updated 2026-07-21 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:UPF Test Diet A: Starchy, refined grainsUPF Test Diet B: Meat, fish, and bread productsUPF Diet C: Dairy products, including cheese and cream

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Within-person metabolomic response during each UPF test diet, compared to the paired non-UPF control diet.
Measured over Day 0, Day 7, and Day 14 of each dietary intervention period

Conditions

Diet, Food and Nutrition

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Healthy Volunteers

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Study leadership

  • Deirdre K Tobias, ScD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Shilpa Bhupathiraju, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Frank B Hu, MD PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

Who to contact

Deirdre K Tobias, ScD
[email protected]
617-278-0844
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adults, ages 20 to 65 years.
BMI 18.5 to 39.9 kg/m2.
No known food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities (e.g., gluten, dairy, monosodium-glutamate).
Not following a restrictive diet for health, religious, or other reasons (e.g., vegetarian, vegan).
Willingness to participate and give informed consent.
Willingness to consume dietary intervention foods and beverages.

Exclusion

BMI \<18.5 or \>39.9 kg/m2.
Pregnant, lactating, or planning on becoming pregnant in the next 6 months.
History of bariatric surgery.
Currently taking medications impacting appetite or body weight.
History of major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 1 or 2 diabetes, major gastrointestinal conditions, uncontrolled hypertension (seated blood pressure systolic \>140 mmHg or diastolic \>90 mmHg), history of invasive cancer, current use of immunosuppressants, and other major chronic diseases and conditions affecting participation, adherence, or study endpoints.
Unwilling or unable to comply with all in person scheduled visits, dietary protocols, study protocol, and other study procedures.
Food allergies or aversions to the foods provided in the dietary interventions.
Non-English speaking.
Other members of the same household are already participating in the research study.
Planning on moving out of the Boston area in the next 6 months.

What this trial measures

  • Within-person metabolomic response during each UPF test diet, compared to the paired non-UPF control diet.Day 0, Day 7, and Day 14 of each dietary intervention period

    The primary outcome for this study is within-person metabolomic response during each UPF test diet, compared to the paired non-UPF control diet. Metabolomic responses will be quantified from metabolite concentrations (e.g., relative abundance) measured in fasting plasma samples collected at day 0, day 7, and day 14 in each diet phase.