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CompletedNCT05569837Updated Nov 2, 2022

The Effect of Irregular Meal Pattern Providing Hypo-energetic Diet on Energy Expenditure and Metabolism

An interventional study of Regular meal pattern and Irregular meal pattern in Metabolic Disturbance and Obesity, sponsored by University of Nottingham. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-11-02.

Sponsored by University of Nottingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 9 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Dec 2021, registered Sep 2022).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
4
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

In this study we will compare the effect of two different meal patterns. Firstly, participants will consume a diet providing their estimated energy requirement for a 7 day standardisation period (6 meals per day). After a one day laboratory visit, this will be followed by a 14 day intervention period when participants will randomly follow a regular meal pattern (6 meals/d) or an irregular meal pattern (3-9 meals/d). Following a further laboratory visit day, they will then consume the previous standardisation diet for a further 3 days. The energy intake provided will be calculated to provide less energy than subjects are using which may result in approximately 2kg of weight loss. Participants will attend a screening visit in which they will complete questionnaires on medical health, eating habits and physical activity. In the laboratory visit, participants will be fasting and for 3 h after intake of a test drink, measurements will be taken of energy expenditure, fasting glucose, fasting gut hormones, fasting lipids and fasting insulin. A test meal will be offered. A questionnaire of subjective appetite ratings will be assessed while fasting, after the test drink, after the test meal, and during the intervention. Continuous interstitial glucose monitoring will be undertaken during the whole study period, Core body temperature will be measured before and after the intervention period. Also, wrist temperature will be measured during the whole study period.

Read the detailed description

Experimental protocol:

28 women who are a healthy weight or overweight (aged 18-45 years) will be recruited to a randomized parallel trial to follow one of two 14-d hypo-energetic diets. Firstly, participants will consume a diet providing their estimated energy requirement (6 meals/day) for a 7 day standardisation period. After a one day laboratory visit, this will be followed by a 14 day intervention period when participants will follow a regular meal pattern (6 meals/d) or an irregular meal pattern (3-9 meals/d) (energy deficit of 800kcal/ 24h in both diets) (identical foods provided on both interventions whilst otherwise free living). Following a further laboratory visit day, they will then consume the previous standardisation diet providing their estimated energy requirement (6 meals/day) for a further 3 days. All foods to be consumed during the study will be provided to free of charge. These will comprise foods commonly consumed in the British diet and will be consumed in amounts designed to provide 800kcal/24h less than estimated energy requirements in the intervention period. Participants will attend the laboratory visits fasting and a blood sample will be obtained for fasting glucose, insulin and lipids. A test drink will then be given and over the following three hours measurements will be taken of energy expenditure (TEF). An ad libitum pasta test meal will be offered three hours after the test drink has been given. Subjective appetite ratings will be assessed while fasting, after the test drink, after the ad libitum meal, and during the intervention. Continuous interstitial glucose monitoring will be undertaken throughout the study. Ambulatory activity pattern measurement will be assessed in the intervention period. Core body temperature will be measured during the last 3 days of the first standardisation period, and during the final three standardisation days. Peripheral body temperature will be measured throughout the study period using a small i- button secured to the wrist. The study will commence at the early phase of the menstrual cycle (days1-7). A constant sleep-wake (and light exposure) routine will be followed for the whole study period which will be assessed by a written questionnaire form

02

Conditions studied

  • Metabolic Disturbance
  • Obesity
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Nottingham is the lead sponsor of 455 studies on the registry; 77 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2,
  • Age between 18 and 45y,
  • Non-smokers,
  • Non high-alcohol consumers (≥ 14 units/week),
  • Regular menstruation or on the oral contraceptive pills,
  • Their weight is stable during the previous 3 months,
  • No self-reported history of serious medical conditions and not under medication.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Smokers
  • High-alcohol consumers (≥ 14 units/week)
  • Subjects with high score for depression using Becks Depression Inventory
  • subjects Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) score >20
  • Subjects who on diet or seeking to lose weight
  • Subjects with high consumption of coffee or tea > 3 cups/day
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
4 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Regular meal pattern

    Participants will follow a regular meal pattern for 14 days

    Other: Regular meal pattern

  • Experimental
    Irregular meal pattern

    Participants will follow an irregular meal pattern for 14 days

    Other: Irregular meal pattern

Interventions

  • OtherRegular meal pattern

    6 meals every day

  • OtherIrregular meal pattern

    It consists of consuming a different number of meals every day (between 3 and 9).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline thermic effect of food in kcal at 2 weeks intervention

    Indirect calorimetry (GEM system; Europa Scientific Ltd.) will be used to determine the resting energy expenditure (REE) and thermic effect of food (TEF). REE will be measured in the fasted state for 20 min. The TEF will be measured for periods of 15 min at 30-min intervals during the 3 h after test drink (milkshake) consumption.

    Time frame: Over 3 hours for 2 days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline body Weight in kilograms at 2 weeks intervention

    Body weight

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  2. Change in subjective appetite

    a booklet will be given to record the subjective appetite (hunger, fullness and desire to eat) using visual analogue scales (VAS) before and after each single meal on: 1. The last day of the pre-standardization period, 2. The first day of the post-intervention period. 3. Pre-lab visit day. 4. Post-lab visit day. 5. Day 7 during the intervention period. 6. Day 14 during intervention period.

    Time frame: 2 days in lab visit, 1 day pre-intervention standardization period, 1 day post-intervention standardization period and 2 days in intervention period

  3. Continuous interstitial glucose

    Continuous interstitial glucose will be undertaken using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) the FreeStyle Libre System during the whole study period

    Time frame: 26 days

  4. Change from baseline fasting glucose in mmol/L at 2 weeks intervention

    A fasting blood samples will be taken, just before ingestion of the test drink to assess the mean of the fasting sample of serum glucose

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  5. Change from baseline fasting insulin in mlU/L at 2 weeks intervention

    A fasting blood samples will be taken, just before ingestion of the test drink to assess the mean of the fasting sample of serum insulin

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  6. Change from baseline fasting lipids in mmol/L at 2 weeks intervention

    A fasting blood samples will be taken, just before ingestion of the test drink to assess the mean of the fasting sample of serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol.

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  7. Change from baseline fasting glucagon-like peptide1 in pM at 2 weeks intervention

    A fasting blood samples will be taken, just before ingestion of the test drink to assess the mean of the fasting plasma glucagon-like peptide1(GLP-1).

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  8. Change from baseline fasting peptide YY in pg/ml at 2 weeks intervention

    A fasting blood samples will be taken, just before ingestion of the test drink to assess the mean of the fasting plasma peptide YY (PYY).

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  9. Change from baseline fasting ghrelin in pg/ml at 2 weeks intervention

    A fasting blood samples will be taken, just before ingestion of the test drink to assess the mean of the fasting plasma ghrelin.

    Time frame: 1 day before intervention and 1 day after intervention

  10. Change from baseline core body temperature in Celsius at 2 weeks intervention

    Core temperature will be assessed using an ingestible telemetry pill and associated monitor (e-Celsius Performance pill and monitor e-Celcius™ BodyCap).

    Time frame: 3 days in pre and post intervention

  11. Peripheral wrist temperature in Celsius

    Wrist temperature will be assessed through a wireless iButton data logger

    Time frame: 26 days

07

Study locations

1 site
  • The University of Nottingham
    Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Alhussain MH, Macdonald IA, Taylor MA. Irregular meal-pattern effects on energy expenditure, metabolism, and appetite regulation: a randomized controlled trial in healthy normal-weight women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Jul;104(1):21-32. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.125401. Epub 2016 Jun 15. PubMed 27305952 ↗
  • Farshchi HR, Taylor MA, Macdonald IA. Regular meal frequency creates more appropriate insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles compared with irregular meal frequency in healthy lean women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jul;58(7):1071-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601935. PubMed 15220950 ↗
  • Farshchi HR, Taylor MA, Macdonald IA. Decreased thermic effect of food after an irregular compared with a regular meal pattern in healthy lean women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 May;28(5):653-60. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802616. PubMed 15085170 ↗
  • Farshchi HR, Taylor MA, Macdonald IA. Beneficial metabolic effects of regular meal frequency on dietary thermogenesis, insulin sensitivity, and fasting lipid profiles in healthy obese women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jan;81(1):16-24. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/81.1.16. PubMed 15640455 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Only anonymised individual personal data will be shared, upon specific request from other researchers, for example, in order to undertake a meta-analysis

Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Csr, Analytic code

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 2, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05569837
Lead sponsor
University of Nottingham
Responsible party
Moira Taylor (Principal Investigator, University of Nottingham) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 6, 2022
Start date
Dec 15, 2021
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2022
Completion
Sep 30, 2022
Last update
Nov 2, 2022

Study contacts

Moira Taylor, PhD
principal investigator · University of Nottingham

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Nov 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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