Exploring the link between body fat, nerve function, and food choices

Adiposité Viscérale, Tonus Vagal Et Préférences Alimentaires : Une Étude Pilote

Observational Laval University · NCT06175988

This study looks at how the fat around our organs affects what we like to eat and how we taste food, especially for people with different body types.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment70 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 45 Years
SexAll
SponsorLaval University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Québec, Quebec)
Trial IDNCT06175988 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study investigates how visceral adiposity, the fat surrounding internal organs, affects food preferences and eating behaviors. It aims to understand the physiological mechanisms that influence these preferences, particularly in relation to sensory perceptions of taste and smell. Participants will be assessed based on their body mass index (BMI) and sensory responses to various food stimuli. The findings could provide insights into the relationship between body composition and dietary habits.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are French-speaking individuals with a BMI between 18.5 and 35 kg/m² who can travel to the research center.

Not a fit: Patients who are smokers, pregnant, breastfeeding, menopausal, or have diabetes or a history of certain pathologies may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could help develop targeted interventions for obesity management by understanding food preferences.

How similar studies have performed: While the relationship between body composition and sensory perception has been explored, this specific approach focusing on visceral adiposity and food preferences is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Have a BMI between 18.5 and 35 kg/m²;
* French-speaking;
* Be able to travel to the Research Center of the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec for an investigative visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Smokers ;
* Women who know they are pregnant, breastfeeding or menopausal;
* Who have been diagnosed with type I or type II diabetes;
* Having undergone bariatric surgery or obesity medication (GLP1 analogue, naltrexon-bupropion combination, etc.);
* Presenting an allergy or intolerance to one of the products used in the sensory tests (taste test: sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, quinine hydrochloride dihydrate; olfactory test: citrus, lemongrass, cinnamon, mint, peppermint, banana, anise, turpentine, garlic, coffee, apple, clove, pineapple, rose, geranium, eucalyptus, wormwood, fennel, caraway, leather, n-butanol, linalool, pyridine, diethyl phthalate, propylene glycol);
* Have a history of pathologies which, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with the study criteria, such as ENT, neurological, upper digestive or cardiac pathologies;
* Receiving long-term pharmacological treatment, in particular antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, etc. ;
* Presenting or having presented in the last 6 months a thymic episode such as depression, bipolar disorder, etc. ;
* Wearing a cardiostimulator (pacemaker);
* Minors or adults under guardianship.

Where this trial is running

Québec, Quebec

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions AdiposityFood PreferencesEating Behavior
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.