An interventional study of Shredded Chicken Congee in Anorexia of Aging and Malnutrition or Risk of Malnutrition, sponsored by Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Singapore. Open to female participants aged 65 Years to 74 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-09.
Sponsored by Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The study aims to identify key physiological factors that differentiate older adults with healthy appetites from those experiencing appetite decline. The investigators hypothesize that seniors experiencing appetite decline will exhibit distinct oro-sensory, gastrointestinal, and hormonal profiles compared to seniors with healthy appetites, suggesting underlying biological mechanisms contributing to reduced appetite.
Appetite decline in older adults, or anorexia of aging, is a prevalent geriatric syndrome associated with decreased quality of life, increased risk of malnutrition, and accelerated decline in health. While current nutritional guidelines often emphasize increasing nutrient density, these strategies often fail to address the root causes of diminished appetite. Emerging research highlights the critical role of age-related physiological changes, particularly dysregulation of the gut-brain axis, altered sensory perception, and hormonal imbalances, in suppressing appetite. Notably, existing evidence is largely derived from Western populations, which may not fully reflect the influence of cultural and lifestyle factors on appetite in Asian seniors. This leaves a significant gap in understanding and addressing appetite loss within this specific demographic. This study aims to address this gap by comprehensively investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying appetite regulation in Asian seniors, to identify key determinants that differentiate individuals with healthy appetites from those experiencing a decline. By assessing the relationships between oro-sensory function, gastric dynamics, neuro-hormonal regulation, gut microbiome composition and subjective appetite, this study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the biological pathways driving appetite differences in this population. The findings of this study will lay the groundwork for future research aimed at developing culturally sensitive and effective interventions that can restore appetite, improve nutritional status, and ultimately enhance the health span and quality of life for older adults in Singapore and beyond. Furthermore, this work has the potential to drive innovation in the food and nutrition industry, leading to the development of tailored products and dietary strategies that effectively address the unique nutritional needs of aging populations, ultimately impacting public health recommendations and policies related to senior nutrition.
1,277 studies on the registry are indexed under Malnutrition; 230 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 118 across 843 interventional studies indexed under Malnutrition.
Browse Malnutrition studies →Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation is the lead sponsor of 69 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Postmenopausal
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Rice congee with shredded chicken and vegetable oil
Other: Shredded Chicken Congee
This is a mixed meal tolerance test intended to elicit gut hormone responses reflective of real-world dietary patterns.
Ad Libitum Lunch
Participants will be asked to eat as much of the stir-fried beehoon as they want until they are comfortably full, to measure the exact calorie intake by weighing the food before and after eating.
Time frame: Participants will be given 30 minutes to consume the meal until they are comfortably full, 180 minutes after the start of the intervention.
Palatability questionnaire
Palatability appetite questionnaire, rated on a visual analogue scale is a psychometric assessment tool where participants rate their subjective sensory experience-such as taste, smell, or pleasantness-by marking a point along a continuous 100 mm line anchored by opposing extremes (e.g., "extremely unpleasant" to "extremely pleasant").
Time frame: Administered after consuming test meal and after consuming the ad libitum meal.
Appetite hormones
GLP-1, PYY and Acyl-ghrelin will be used to measure hormones related to appetite.
Time frame: Blood samples will be collected at timepoints (t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes)
Subjective Appetite Questionnaire
A subjective appetite questionnaire utilizes a Visual Analogue Scale to quantify a person's current metabolic state by measuring four key sensations: hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and prospective food consumption.
Time frame: Measurement is taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 10, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes
Gastric Ultrasound
Gastric ultrasound will measure the gastric emptying rate postprandially.
Time frame: Measurements will be taken at t = -15 minute (baseline), 15, 45, 105 and 165 minutes
Stool collected using the OMNIgene and OMNImet
Stool sample will be collected in the OMNIgene-GUT and OMNImet-GUT tube for measurements that may include microbiome profiling, untargeted and targeted metabolome (e.g. bile acids and short-chain fatty acids profiling).
Time frame: Baseline stool sample will be collected once between screening and intervention day.
Olfactory Acuity (SCENTinel)
Olfactory acuity will be assessed using a simple, non-invasive SCENTinel rapid smell test. Participants will be presented with test cards containing various odors, and will be asked to detect, rate, and identify the odors. The test assesses the participant's ability to perceive and recognize smells, providing information on their overall sense of smell.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Taste Acuity Test (WETT)
The Waterless Empirical Taste Test (WETT) is a sensory method for assessing how well participants can recognise and detect basic tastes. Participants will taste pre-moistened, paper-based test strips for the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10-15 minutes
Blood plasma (Cytokines)
Blood samples may also be analyzed for indicators of inflammation including cytokines testing
Time frame: t = -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes
Blood plasma (Bile acids and short-chain fatty acids profiling)
Blood samples collected may be used to analyse biomarkers related to nutrition and digestive health e.g. bile acid and short-chain fatty acids profiling
Time frame: t= -15 minute (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes
Bite Strength
Bite strength will be measured using a bite force device (non-invasive) that records the maximum force a participant can exert while biting. Multiple measurements will be taken with rest periods in between to prevent fatigue.
Time frame: Baseline measurement that may be administered once during screening or test session, as schedule and equipment permits. Takes only a few minutes.
Tongue Strength (Tongue Pressure)
Tongue pressure will be measured using a device equipped with a disposable air-filled bulb placed between the tongue and the hard palate. Participants will be instructed to press the bulb with their tongue as firmly as possible for a few seconds. Multiple measurements will be taken with rest periods in between to ensure accuracy and prevent fatigue.
Time frame: Baseline measurement that may be administered once during screening or test session, as schedule and equipment permits. Takes approximately 5 minutes.
Health and Lifestyle questionnaire
This questionnaire is to evaluate the participant's eligibility for the study. It consist of participant information, medical and health history, lifestyle and diet, physical activity.
Time frame: Baseline measurement that is completed during screening visit
3-day food record
A 3-day food record is a detailed diary where participants document everything they eat and drink over two weekdays and one weekend day to provide an accurate snapshot of their typical nutritional intake. This is done using household measures (or digital scales), where exact portion sizes, cooking methods and brand names of all items are used.
Time frame: Administered between screening and actual test session, to be completed on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend.
Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)
The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) is a validated 15-item questionnaire used to assess the presence and severity of common digestive issues across five key areas: abdominal pain, reflux, diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion. Participants rate each symptom on a 7-point Likert scale-ranging from "no discomfort" to "very severe discomfort"-to provide a quantifiable measurement of their gastrointestinal well-being.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening.
Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ)
The Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ) is a brief, 8-item screening tool designed to predict future weight loss by assessing a participant's appetite and dietary habits. It asks about sensations like hunger, how quickly a participant feel full, and how food tastes to determine if a participant is at risk for nutritional deficiencies or significant weight changes over the coming months.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a validated 19-item questionnaire used to measure sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month timeframe. It evaluates seven key areas-including sleep duration, how long it takes to fall asleep, sleep disruptions, and daytime tiredness-to generate a single overall score that differentiates between "good" and "poor" sleepers in clinical research.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 5-10 minutes
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item questionnaire-often shortened to a 15-item version-specifically designed to screen for depression in older adults. Unlike general depression scales, it uses a simple "yes" or "no" format and focuses primarily on psychological and mood-related symptoms rather than physical complaints (like aches or fatigue), which can often overlap with normal aging or other medical conditions.
Time frame: Administered once during screening, takes approximately 5 minutes
Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ)
The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) is a 33-item psychometric scale used to assess the distinct psychological factors and eating styles that can lead to overeating or weight gain. It breaks eating behaviors down into three core subscales - emotional eating, external eating and restrained eating.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ)
The Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ) is a computer-based tool used in behavioral research to measure different psychological components of food preference and appetite. It uses a series of food images to evaluate two distinct aspects of food reward: explicit liking and implicit wanting. The tool categorizes these preferences across different food characteristics, specifically comparing high-fat vs. low-fat foods, and sweet vs. savory tastes.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10-15 minutes
Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ)
The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) is a validated psychometric tool used to measure three distinct dimensions of human eating behavior and cognitive dietary control. It evaluates eating habits across three primary subscales: cognitive restraint, disinhibition and hunger
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is a validated tool that measures a person's physical activity levels over a 7-day period. It records the total time spent across four distinct intensities: vigorous activity (like running or heavy lifting), moderate activity (like steady cycling), walking, and weekday sitting time. These tracked minutes are converted into a standard metabolic score (MET-minutes/week), which is then used to classify an individual's overall physical activity level into one of three distinct categories: Low, Moderate, or High.
Time frame: Baseline measurement administered once during screening, takes approximately 10 minutes
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Jun 2026; primary completion for Aug 2026, 2 months later.
Of 392 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Malnutrition, half reached primary completion within 21 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 37. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 418 studies reached it within 22 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 37.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation