Sucrose-induced behavior changes of persons with Prader-Willi syndrome

The relationship between changed or erratic behavior of nine Prader-Willi males and their ingestion of excess kcalories from sucrose was examined. The study was a double-blind design, with objective measures of behavioral change following ingestion of either a sucrose solution or a control preparation containing starch or saccharin. On each of the 3 test days, one of the three test solutions was given, along with a standard 210 kcalorie starch-based breakfast. Blood glucose values at 0.30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after feeding were compared to the percentage of errors made on paired-associate learning tasks (given eight times daily) and the gross-motor "movement" scores from a wrist monitor and a chair attached to an electrical counter. Results showed that out of 162 test correlations performed, only 8 were significant, exactly the number expected by chance. Possible reasons were suggested as to why no significant differences were found.