Essential Fats For Enhancing Cognitive Thinking (EFFECT) Study

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age40-75
SponsorOhio State University

About this trial

The proposed research is a randomized crossover trial designed to assess changes in postprandial cognitive function and the gut-brain axis in adults with subjective cognitive complaints who consume 1 study snack per day for 1 week.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Subjective cognitive impairment

BMI ≥30 kg/m2

HbA1C <6.5%

Disqualifiers

Diagnosis og cognitive impairment or dementia

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of <26

Current or previous diagnosis of Diabetes or use of diabetes medications

Current diagnosis of or current treatment of cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Walnuts

    Other intervention

    56g of walnuts consumed each day for 7 days

  • Simply White Diary-free chocolate bar

    Other intervention

    68g of the white chocolate style-bar each day for 7 days

Treatment groups

88 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: WalnutsExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: White chocolate-style barExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Cognitive function measured using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB)

To determine the impact of consuming the study dietary fats as part of a high fat meal on postprandial cognitive function

Time frame
Week 0 and Week 5

Secondary outcomes

1

Change in Cognitive function measured using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB)

To assess changes in cognitive function after consuming 1 serving of the dietary fats every day for 1 week

Time frame
Week 0, Week 1, Week 5 and Week 6
2

Changes in fecal Microbiota diversity

To assess changes in microbiota diversity of fecal samples after consuming 1 serving of the dietary fats every day for 1 week

Time frame
Week 0, Week 1, Week 5 and Week 6

Other outcomes

1

Changes in postprandial energy metabolism

To evaluate the effect of dietary fats on postprandial indirect calorimetry (kilocalories)

Time frame
Week 0 and Week 5
2

Changes in postprandial respiratory quotient

To evaluate the effect of dietary fats on postprandial respiratory quotient to identify what fuels (carbohydrate protein or fat) are utilized

Time frame
Week 0 and Week 5
3

Changes in postprandial lipids

To evaluate the effect of dietary fats on postprandial lipid panel including total cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, Triglycerides (mg/dL)

Time frame
Week 0 and Week 5
4

Changes in postprandial Tumor necrosis factor levels

To evaluate the effect of dietary fats on postprandial blood Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), a marker of inflammation

Time frame
Week 0 and Week 5

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Ohio State University

Lead sponsor

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Collaborator

The California Walnut Commission

Collaborator