Government health guidelines recommend that we limit sugar intake, but do not provide specific recommendations for the sugars found in milk (lactose) because far less is known about how they affect our health.

Participating in our study will help us better understand how milk sugars influence the way dietary fats are processed by the body, which in turn could lead to new updates to diet guidelines aimed at improving cardiovascular health.

What's involved in the study

Participants are asked to complete one screening visit to determine eligibility, and three main trials to examine the acute postprandial metabolic responses to three different test drinks. All three test drinks will be comprised of a high-fat chocolate drink with the addition of one of the following sugars:

• Maltodextrin (a common sugar substitute)
• Sucrose (table sugar)
• Lactose (milk sugar)

We will use stable isotope (non-radioactive tracer) methodology along with the collection of blood and breath samples to examine what happens to the fat and carbohydrate in your body following the consumption of each test drink.

Eligibility

We are looking to recruit healthy individuals aged 18 to 50 years with a body mass index of between 18.5 and 40 kg/m2.

Some things that may make you ineligible for the study include:

• Your weight has fluctuated by more than 5 kg within the last 6 months
• Diagnosis of any form of diabetes, cardiovascular disease or conditions of altered galactose or fructose metabolism
• Intolerances or allergies to any of the study procedures (for example, lactose intolerance)
• If you are pregnant or lactating
• Use of therapies that could alter glucose or lipid metabolism, such as statins or niacin

What you'll get for taking part

Participants will receive:

• a personalised summary of their own results including body composition from a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, physical activity levels, dietary analysis and blood test results
• reimbursement of travel costs to and from the University
• £150 Love2shop gift vouchers

Confidentiality

Only the Lead Researcher, Dr Steven Carter, and Principle/Chief Investigator, Dr Javier Gonzalez, will have access to the personal information you provide, and all records will be treated as confidential, including personal contact details.

This project is funded by The British Heart Foundation. This study has received ethical approval.¹