With ultra-processed foods being linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease and age as an additional risk factor, researchers in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, which is in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, are studying if ultra-processed foods are implicated in the age-related increased risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, thanks to a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

This grant’s principal investigator is Brenda Davy, a professor in the department, and its co-investigators include Kevin Davy, also a professor in the department; Valisa Hedrick, an associate professor in the department; and Katherine Phillips, a senior research scientist in biochemistry.

This project is focused on people aged 40 to 65 and uses a “controlled feeding design” – all foods and beverages are provided to study participants for a total of eight weeks. Before and after being on either a diet high in ultra-processed foods or containing no ultra-processed foods, researchers will look at participants' 24-hour blood glucose values for a week, using continuous glucose monitors. The study is novel in that others have not done this using this rigorous controlled diet approach.

Recruitment for the study (IRB Protocol # 21-974) is currently underway. The study will include coming to the lab for breakfast each day (Monday-Saturday) and taking any remaining food home for the day. The frequency of lab visits may be reduced to 3-4 times per week after 2 weeks on the diet. The total duration of the controlled diet phase is 8 weeks. Food for Sunday will be provided on Saturdays. Participants will be provided all meals for the full 8 weeks, and consume either a diet high or low in processed foods.

Assessments include DEXA body composition scans, three oral glucose tolerance tests, two 48-hour urine collections, two 3-day stool collections, and wearing a glucose monitor and a physical activity monitor for one week at the beginning and end of the study.

This study also involves about 50 visits to the Virginia Tech Campus over 9 weeks. Free parking is provided. Total time commitment will be about 35 hours. Participants will be compensated a total of $800 upon successful completion of all study visits.

To learn more about the study and determine if you are eligible, visit https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AVDPlZtgEj or for more information, please contact Elaina Marinik at 540-231-0923 or via email at: emarinik@vt.edu.