Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Broccoli Effect on Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)

The BETA study is investigating if eating broccoli soup can help improve blood sugar levels in adults with pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal, and previous research suggests broccoli might help. For this study, you'd eat either broccoli or courgette soup three times a week for 12 weeks, take a break, then switch to the other soup. Researchers will check your blood and urine to understand how the soups affect your body. This takes place in Norwich, UK, and aims to see if broccoli can make a difference in managing blood sugar.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Quadram Institute Bioscience

Enrolment target

Start

27 Sep 2021

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2026

Pre-diabetes

What is this study about?

This research study, called BETA, is looking into whether eating broccoli soup can help people who have 'pre-diabetes'. Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The good news is that at this stage, changes to your diet and lifestyle can often help bring your blood sugar back to a healthy level. Researchers are interested in broccoli because some studies have hinted that it might help to lower blood sugar over time.

The main goal of this study is to compare broccoli soup with another soup made from courgettes to see if broccoli has a special effect. You might be wondering why soup? Well, making it into a soup ensures everyone gets a consistent amount of the potential beneficial ingredients from the vegetable. By taking part, you'd be helping scientists understand more about how certain foods can affect our health, especially in managing blood sugar levels, which could influence future healthy eating advice for people with pre-diabetes.

This study is being run by experts at the Quadram Institute in Norwich, UK. What they find out could be really helpful for people with pre-diabetes, giving them more options to consider alongside advice from their doctor to keep their blood sugar in check and reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Key takeaways

The study investigates if broccoli soup helps manage pre-diabetes.
It compares broccoli soup with courgette soup over two 12-week periods.
Participation involves 9 visits to the clinic in Norwich over 9 months.
Blood and urine samples are collected to measure changes in health markers.
Your involvement helps understand diet's role in blood sugar control.

Who may be eligible?

To join the BETA study, you need to be an adult (18 years or older) and specifically have pre-diabetes. You also need to live fairly close to the Norwich Research Park – within a 40-mile radius – as you'll need to attend the clinic there regularly. Your body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of your weight in relation to your height, should be between 18.5 and 35.

There are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to take part. For example, if you have a serious illness like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, or if you're undergoing treatment that affects your immune system, you wouldn't be eligible. Also, if you have allergies to ingredients in the soups (like broccoli, courgette, milk, or gluten), or certain blood pressure conditions, you wouldn't be able to join. Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study period cannot participate.

Lifestyle factors also play a role: if you smoke frequently, drink more than a moderate amount of alcohol, or follow a vegan diet or a diet that requires long periods of fasting, you would not be suitable. Some medications can also affect blood sugar or interfere with the study results, so these would need to be discussed with the study doctors.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an adult (18 years or older) with diagnosed pre-diabetes?
Do you live within 40 miles of Norwich Research Park?
Do you have a BMI between 18.5 and 35?
Are you able to eat broccoli and courgette, and do not have serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer?
Are you not pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study?
Do you avoid heavy smoking, heavy drinking, or extreme diets like long-term fasting?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in the BETA study, your journey will involve visiting the Quadram Institute Clinical Research Facility in Norwich a total of nine times over about nine months. These visits include an initial check-up to make sure you're suitable, four shorter visits, and four longer visits where you'll have specific blood sugar tests.

During the study, you'll be asked to eat one of two soups – either broccoli or courgette – three times a week for 12 weeks. After this, you'll have a 12-week break from the soup (a 'soup holiday'). Then, you'll switch to the other soup and eat that three times a week for another 12 weeks. You won't know which soup you're getting at any time, nor will the study team testing it.

Throughout the study, the researchers will take blood and urine samples. These samples will help them check various things like your blood sugar levels, insulin, and cholesterol. You'll also be asked to fill out questionnaires about your daily habits, such as what you eat and how active you are. It’s important to attend all visits and follow the instructions carefully to help the researchers get accurate results.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in the study might offer you some benefits. You'll receive regular health checks, and the information gained could be helpful to you and many others with pre-diabetes in the future. However, there's no guarantee the broccoli soup will improve your blood sugar; it's possible it may not have any noticeable effect. As with any study involving blood tests, there's a small risk of discomfort or bruising from the blood draws. The soups themselves are made from common food items, but if you have an unknown allergy, you might experience a reaction. You are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Quadram Institute Bioscience
Verified postcode
Norwich, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It's often a warning sign that you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

What will I have to eat in the study?

You will be asked to eat either broccoli soup or courgette soup three times a week for 12 weeks. After a break, you'll switch to the other soup for another 12 weeks.

How many times will I need to visit the clinic?

You will need to attend the clinic in Norwich nine times over the entire study period, which lasts about nine months.

Will I know if I'm eating broccoli or courgette soup?

No, neither you nor the study team will know which soup you are receiving at any given time. This helps ensure the results are fair and unbiased.

What are the main things the researchers will be checking?

They will be checking your blood sugar levels, insulin, and other health markers using blood and urine samples to see how the soups affect your body.