HITS

The HITS Study (Human Investigation of Training Status on Dietary Intake using Direct Measurement of Ingestive Behaviour) was initiated in 2024 by Dr. Michele Serra at the University Hospital Zurich. It aims to explore how training status in healthy young adults influences dietary consumption patterns, particularly the intake of sugar and fat, and to identify related physiological and microbiological mechanisms.

This cross-sectional observational study uses the “Drinkometer” device to precisely assess the microstructure of ingestive behaviour in trained versus untrained individuals. During three separate study visits, participants consume different types of standardized test meals (high-carb, high-fat, or high-sucrose milk), while plasma samples are collected before and after ingestion to measure gastrointestinal hormone levels. In parallel, stool samples are collected to analyse differences in gut microbiome composition and circadian rhythmicity. This approach integrates behavioural, metabolic, and microbial data, allowing a comprehensive understanding of how physical training might affect dietary preferences and physiology.

By bridging findings from rodent studies conducted by Dr. Lavinia Boccia and Prof. J. Nicholas Betley at the University of Pennsylvania, this study seeks to advance translational insights into the mechanisms linking physical activity, appetite regulation, and nutrition. The integration of these innovative methodologies could significantly contribute to the refinement of dietary recommendations and preventive strategies in lifestyle-related diseases.

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zurich with BASEC-Nr. 2024-00926.
The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID pending registration update).

Preliminary results will be presented in July 2025 at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour in Oxford, UK.