About this trial
The goal of this trial is to investigate whether reduction in ultra-processed food intake through dietary counseling and education can improve postprandial glucose responses and glycemic variability compared with a usual diet in young, healthy Korean adults aged 20-30 years. The main questions it aims to answer are:
\- Does reducing ultra-processed food intake, while maintaining total energy intake and usual lifestyle behaviors, improve postprandial glucose and lower glycemic variability in healthy adults without diabetes?
Participants will:
* Undergo the 10-day pre-intervention monitoring period, during which each participant will wear a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device and concurrently report their daily dietary intakes (all food and beverage consumption) and other lifestyle behaviors (sleep, smoking, physical activity) * After the 10-day pre-intervention monitoring period, participants will be randomized to either intervention or control group * Intervention group: Participants will visit the research site to receive dietitian-led one-on-one nutrition education and personalized dietary counseling targeting reduction of ultra-processed food intake. Personalized diet counseling will be provided by study dietitian based on participant's records of dietary intakes during the 10-day pre-intervention monitoring period. * Control group: Participants will receive dietitian-led nutrition education and personalized dietary counseling based on the national dietary guidelines. * After the intervention, participants will undergo the 10-day post-intervention monitoring period, during which participants will wear a new CGM device for an additional 10 days and continue daily reporting of dietary intakes (all food and beverage consumptions) and lifestyle behaviors (sleep, smoking, physical activity).
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Korean adults aged 20-39 years
Not currently pregnant
No personal history of diabetes or other glucose-related conditions
Consume ≥25% of daily energy intake from UPFs, as assessed by an online, self-administered semi-quantitative screening food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)
Disqualifiers
Unable to maintain continuous follow-up during the study period (e.g., due to special plans such as traveling)
Planning to follow a special or restrictive diet (e.g., for weight loss) during the study period
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- 40-minute one-on-one dietary counseling and nutrition education aimed at reducing ultra-processed food consumption
- Standard dietary counseling and nutrition education based on national guidelines
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Korea University
Lead sponsor
Korean Society of Cardiometabolic Syndrome (funder)
Collaborator