Effect of Low Dose Galactose on Glycaemia and Glucose Kinetics

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Glucose

In brief

This project will establish the degree to which adding low-dose galactose to a meal can control blood sugar levels. People will consume standardised glucose drinks (75g glucose, as an oral glucose tolerance test). People will consume these with and without the addition of galactose, and with the addition of another sugar (fructose) for an extra comparison. The investigators will use state-of-the-art labelling methods (dual stable isotope technology) to follow what happens to the glucose that is ingested and understand what happens to sugar being released by the liver and sugar being taken up by other tissues like the muscles. These methods can tell the investigators how the addition of galactose can control blood sugar levels. For example, the galactose could slow down the appearance of glucose from the gut and/or liver released into the blood, or it could increase the disappearance of glucose from the blood into muscles. The investigators will measure the appearance of the label on exhaled breath, which will establish whether ingested sugar is stored, or burned as fuel. The investigators will also explore other potential ways in which galactose might control blood sugar levels by measuring key hormones and metabolites that contribute to blood sugar control (for example, insulin, fatty acids, and incretin hormones which potentiate insulin secretion). This additional evidence of how galactose can control blood sugar levels will provide the understanding required to best make use of this approach across a variety of settings.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07599683

Run by

University of Bath

People needed

25

Starts

2026-01-01

Expected to finish

2029-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-08

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age: 18 years and above;
• Normoglycaemic (fasting glucose <6.1 mmol/L)
• Body mass index: 18.5-30 kg/m2

You may not qualify if…

• weight instability (>5% change within last 3 months);
• pregnant or lactating;
• following a very low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet;
• diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes, or any other metabolic disease;
• dietary intolerances or allergies, or to any other study procedures;
• disorders in the ability to metabolise galactose or fructose (e.g., galactosemias);
• diagnosis of any gastrointestinal disorders;
• any other condition/medications that could introduce bias;
• unable to understand and follow study procedures

Where it is running

• University of Bath — Bath, United Kingdom (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.