Investigating a role for sweet taste in reducing free sugar intakes: results of a pilot randomised controlled trial

Public health agencies currently recommend reducing free sugar intakes for health benefit. The role for sweet taste in reducing free sugar intakes, however, is controversial. Prior to undertaking a larger trial to investigate likely benefits or detriments to consuming sweet taste while aiming to reduce free sugar intakes, this pilot study tested all methods and processes. Using a randomised controlled trial design, 72 adults (52 female, mean (sd) age: 42·3 (14·4) years, mean (sd) BMI: 27·2 (5·1) kg/m²) were asked to reduce their free sugar intakes by substituting usual high-free-sugar foods/beverages with low-free-sugar foods/beverages with: (1) a sweet taste (Group Sweet Taste, N 24); (2) a non-sweet taste (Group Taste, N 24); or (3) no/neutral taste (Group No Taste, N 24). Interventions were given at a single timepoint via an information booklet. Effects were assessed on free sugar intakes, dietary, anthropometric, taste-based, and attitudinal outcomes and participant perceptions, over the following 4 (and 12) weeks. Free sugar intakes, as a percentage of total energy intake (%TEI), reduced by 2·6-3·6 %TEI in all three groups, with changes also reported in other dietary, taste-based and attitudinal outcomes. Differing advantages and disadvantages to the information provided were also offered by participants. Our findings demonstrate benefit from dietary recommendations for reducing free sugar intakes, but further work is needed to investigate the advice provided to aid with this, in larger samples and over longer time frames. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05684757, date: 03.01.2023.