How drinking enough water and choosing non-sugar sweetened drinks affects health

Adequate Hydration and Health Outcomes

Not applicable Interventional Arizona State University · NCT07179107

We will test whether switching your usual drinks to plain water or to non-sugar sweetened beverages for three-week periods changes hydration, blood-sugar markers, and cardiovascular-related measures in adults 20–65 who are either normal weight or have obesity and have HbA1c ≤7%.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment144 (estimated)
Ages20 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorArizona State University Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07179107 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Participants are screened with consent, medical history, body measurements, and a finger-stick HbA1c and then assigned by BMI category (normal weight or obesity) into an 8-week crossover protocol. After a baseline week of usual fluid intake, each participant completes two 3-week intervention periods in random order: one period consuming only plain water and one consuming only non-sugar sweetened beverages, separated by a washout week. Subjects attend weekly visits for measurements and monitoring, and those with HbA1c >7% are excluded and referred appropriately. The study compares short-term changes in hydration markers, metabolic measures, and cardiovascular-relevant signals between the beverage conditions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 20–65 with BMI 18.5–24.9 or 30.0–39.9 kg/m2, HbA1c ≤7%, and the ability to attend weekly in-person visits for eight consecutive weeks are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with diagnosed diabetes, HbA1c >7%, BMI 25–29.9 or ≥40 kg/m2, significant kidney, liver, or cardiac disease, or those on medications or with work/lifestyle factors that affect fluid balance are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could show that modest, low-cost changes in beverage choice improve hydration and lower markers linked to diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

How similar studies have performed: Observational studies have linked higher water intake and lower vasopressin activity to better metabolic and kidney outcomes, but randomized crossover trials directly comparing plain water to non-sugar sweetened beverages are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* BMI 18.5-24.9 or 30.0-39.9 kg/m2
* HbA1c ≤7%
* Age 20-65 y
* available for 8 consecutive weeks same day and time

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diabetes
* HbA1c \>7% BMI ≤18.5, BMI of 25 to \<30, or ≥ 40 kg/m2
* night shifting work
* losing or gaining weight during the last 2 months (\>5 lbs. fluctuation)
* thyroid medication
* bariatric surgery
* Habitual strenuous exercise (\>120 min/week) Strenuous exercise is defined as activities that take hard physical effort and make you breathe much harder than normal.
* Construction and other workers that spend signifant portion of their work day outdoors
* Commuting by bicycle
* Eating disorders
* Use of aspirin during the duration of the study
* Cancer
* Renal disease (including kidney stones or recurrent urinary track infections
* Hepatic disease
* Cardiac conditions
* Current infection requiring medication
* Chronic, contagious, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, Hepatitis A, B, C, or HIV
* Medication that could affect appetite or body weight regulation
* GLP1-RA medication
* Anti-depressent SSRI medication
* Testosterone replacement therapy
* Participating in another study at the same time
* Unable to abstain from alcohol during the study
* Unable to limit caffeinated beverage intake to 1 cup per day
* Donated blood during the past two months
* Uneasibly acessable veins
* Does not have smart phone

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona and 1 other locations

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 DehydrationGlucose AbnormalitiesCardiovascularhydrationdehydrationunderhydrationfluid intakenon caloric sweeteners
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.