Reducing ultra-processed foods to improve post-meal blood sugar using continuous glucose monitors
Official title: Effects of Ultra-processed Food Reduction Intervention on Postprandial Glucose and Glycemic Variability in Korean Young Adults: Study Protocol for the ULTRA-CGM Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Korea University · NCT07175701 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will try reducing ultra-processed food intake in healthy Korean adults aged 20–39 to see if it lowers post-meal blood sugar spikes and overall glucose variability using continuous glucose monitors.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 20 Years to 39 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Korea University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Seoul, Seoul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 11, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07175701 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Korean adults aged 20–39 who are not pregnant, do not have diabetes, get at least 25% of daily energy from ultra-processed foods, can wear a CGM, and can attend follow-up visits.
✕Probably not a fit
People with diagnosed diabetes, those planning special or restrictive diets, pregnant individuals, or those who already consume low amounts of ultra-processed foods are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized, parallel two-arm trial enrolls healthy Korean adults who consume at least 25% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods. Participants complete a 10-day baseline period wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and logging foods and lifestyle behaviors, then are randomized to either a 40-minute one-on-one UPF-reduction dietary counseling intervention or standard national guideline counseling while maintaining total energy intake. The primary outcomes are postprandial glucose responses and measures of glycemic variability captured by CGM. The trial tests whether targeted counseling to reduce UPFs changes real-time glucose patterns in young adults without diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could show that cutting back on ultra-processed foods reduces post-meal glucose spikes and glycemic variability, supporting dietary advice to lower future diabetes risk in younger adults.
How similar studies have gone: Observational studies link high ultra-processed food intake to worse metabolic outcomes, but randomized interventions using CGM to directly test UPF reduction in young healthy adults are limited and this approach is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Korean adults aged 20-39 years 2. Not currently pregnant 3. No personal history of diabetes or other glucose-related conditions 4. Consume ≥25% of daily energy intake from UPFs, as assessed by an online, self-administered semi-quantitative screening food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) 5. No restriction on wearing a CGM device 6. No increased risk of bleeding 7. No prior adverse reaction to CGM devices 8. Willingness to participate in follow-up assessments Exclusion Criteria: 1. Unable to maintain continuous follow-up during the study period (e.g., due to special plans such as traveling) 2. Planning to follow a special or restrictive diet (e.g., for weight loss) during the study period
Where it's running
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Health Promotion Lab, College of Health Science, Korea University
Seoul, Seoul, South Korea Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hannah Oh, ScD — Department of Health Policy and Management, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Study coordinator: Yujin Kim, BSN
- Email: iamyujin@korea.ac.kr
- Phone: +82-10-8712-9763
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.