An interventional study of [11C] raclopride and liquid nutritive stimulus in Healthy Volunteers, sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
Background:
Dopamine is a chemical that the brain makes when a person expects a reward. Researchers want to learn more about how eating different types of food affects dopamine levels in the brain.
Objective:
To test how eating different foods affects dopamine levels in the brains of healthy people.
Eligibility:
Healthy people aged 18 to 45 years old.
Design:
Participants will be divided into 2 groups (cohorts). Both will have overnight stays in the clinic.
All participants will be screened. They will talk to a dietitian about their eating habits. They will have a test of how much energy their body uses: They will lie on a table with a clear hood over their heads to measure the gases as they breathe.
During the 3 weeks before participants stay at the clinic, a dietitian will call at 3 random times to ask what they ate the day before. They will complete questionnaires. Cohort 1 will wear a device to track their step count for at least 7 days; these participants will be given food to eat for 2 days before they stay in the clinic.
Cohort 1 will stay in the clinic for 14 days. They will eat as much or as little as they would like on 2 different diets for 5 days each and a normal diet on the other days. They will have blood collected multiple times. They will have 2 d ifferent types of imaging scans. For 1 type, they will receive a drug through a vein to show how much dopamine is in their brains.
Cohort 2 will stay in the clinic for 2 days. They will eat only the foods provided. They will have imaging scans before and after drinking a milkshake. For both scans, they will receive a drug through a vein to show how much dopamine is in their brains. They will have blood collected multiple times.
Study Description:
In this single-site study, we will recruit a cohort of 32 adult volunteers to a randomized crossover diet study to investigate change in dopamine D2 receptor availability (via [11C]raclopride binding potential). During their participation, after a 2-day outpatient stabilization diet, participants will be admitted for a 14-day, 13-night inpatient stay at the NIH Clinical Center. Following 2 days of inpatient stabilization diet, participants will consume two ad libitum test diets with distinct proportions of ultra-processed food for 5 days each in random order separated by 1 day of stabilization diet. We will collect information via Positron Emission Tomography (PET) about dopamine D2 receptor availability under fasting conditions and dopamine response to an oral stimulus solution. Additionally, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging (MRS, MRI) will be used to collect information on changes in brain GABA tone, white matter hyperintensities, brain iron content, and brain activity in response to the two test diets. Further, we will additionally recruit a cohort of 36 adult volunteers for a 2 day/1night stay at the Clinical Center to measure dopamine D2 receptor availability in the extended post ingestive state to determine whether dopamine release may be quantified in this period of the postprandial state.
Objectives:
Endpoints:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is the lead sponsor of 538 studies on the registry; 55 are open to participants now.
Of its 80 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 51 (64%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
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.
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.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
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.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will be randomized to the one of two diet sequences (study arms: UPF-MPF vs MPF-UPF) by NIH dietitians after enrollment, in advance of admission. A total of n=32 participants will be evenly grouped into 16 batches according to date of inpatient admission. Within each batch of 2 participants, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two diet sequences, ensuring any order effects will be counterbalanced and maintaining balance across diet sequence assignments.
Drug: [11C] raclopride · Other: liquid nutritive stimulus · Other: Tasteless Oral Stimulus Solution · Other: Minimally Processed Diet · Other: Baseline Diet
Participants will be randomized to the one of two diet sequences (study arms: UPF-MPF vs MPF-UPF) by NIH dietitians after enrollment, in advance of admission. A total of n=32 participants will be evenly grouped into 16 batches according to date of inpatient admission. Within each batch of 2 participants, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two diet sequences, ensuring any order effects will be counterbalanced and maintaining balance across diet sequence assignments.
Drug: [11C] raclopride · Other: liquid nutritive stimulus · Other: Tasteless Oral Stimulus Solution · Other: Ultra Processed Diet · Other: Baseline Diet
The drug is intended for use as a radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography (PET) administered at a maximum prescribed dose of 20mCi and will be administered intravenously via indwelling catheter
The \~8 oz liquid meal will be high in both dietary fat and sugar and ultra-processed designation based on ingredients and will be prepared by the NIH Clinical Center Metabolic Kitchen for participant consumption during the PET scans at the end of both test dietary intervention periods (Cohort 1) or for consumption between the PET scans (Cohort 2).
The control stimulus is a non-rewarding tasteless solution with viscosity distinct from pure water (i.e., artificial saliva). Four dilutions of 25mM potassium chloride + 2.5mM sodium bicarbonate will be prepared by NIH Clinical Center Pharmacy for participant oral stimulus taste test
The minimally processed diet will derive \~80% of calories from minimally processed foods and will contain no ultra-processed foods, (NOVA 1-3), as defined by the degree, extent, and purpose of processing according to the NOVA classification system. The minimally processed diet will be matched to the ultra-processed diet for presented macronutrients, sugar, sodium, and fiber. This diet will be low in both non-beverage energy density and hyper-palatable foods
The ultra-processed diet will derive \~80% of energy from ultra-processed foods (NOVA 4), as defined by the degree, extent, and purpose of processing according to the NOVA classification system. The ultra processed diet will be matched to the minimally processed diet for presented macronutrients, sugar, sodium, and fiber. This diet will be high in both non-beverage energy density and hyper-palatable foods.
The baseline (control) diet will be composed of 50% of energy from ultra-processed foods while matching distribution of macronutrients presented in test diets and total sugar, sodium, and fiber). Energy needs will be estimated using resting energy expenditure multiplied by an appropriate activity factor collected at screening visit to facilitate production by the NIH Metabolic Kitchen.
Dopamine D2 receptor binding potential (D2BP) during steady portion of [11C]raclopride infusion PET neuroimaging
Fasting (steady state) whole striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding at the conclusion of three diet periods (on 4th day of control diet, after 5 full days ad libitum UPF, and after 5 full days ad libitum MPF)
Time frame: 5 days
The magnitude of striatal dopamine responses to orosensory and post-ingestive milkshake exposure
Measured at the conclusion of three diet periods (on 4th day of control diet, after 5 full days ad libitum UPF, and after 5 full days ad libitum MPF).
Time frame: 5 days
The difference between striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding potential
Measured while fasting and 1.3 -3 hours after a palatable liquid meal (Cohort 2).
Time frame: 90-180 minutes
Plan to share: Yes — Data published in Harvard Dataverse (https://dataverse.harvard.edu/) will be accessible to the research community for the long-term. Terms of access to data to require requestors to log in and provide information including their identity and intended use to initiate an access request to Dr. Darcey, the PI.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Informed consent form
Time frame: Data will be made available as soon as possible or at the time of associated publication, whichever comes first
Access criteria: Terms of access to data to require requestors to log in and provide information including their identity and intended use to initiate an access request to Dr. Darcey, the PI.
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for Nov 2030, 47 months later.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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