Diet and Learning Abilities in Norwegian Youths
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The aim of this study is to assess the effects of giving a schoolmeal with fatty fish, a schoolmeal without fish or omega-3 capsules on Noregian adolescents cognitive performance (concentration and learning abilities), mental health statua and markers of nutritional status. In addition, to disentangle the effect of fatty fish eaten as food and the effects of omega-3 fatty acids taken as a supplement.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
There has been an increased attention to the role of nutrition for learning abilities among schoolchildren. As the diet provides humans with energy and several essential nutrients, a balanced supply of all nutrients promotes not only physical growth and health, but also cognitive development, helping children to learn from infancy throughout adolescence and beyond. In a three-armed non-blinded intervention trial the investigators will test whether ingestion of a schoolmeal or omega-3 capsules will improve cognitive function among pupils in 9th grade at eight lower secondary school. The pupils will be randomised into three groups, one group will be served lunch with fatty fish, one group will be served similar lunch with meat/cheese (without fish) and one group will recieve omega-3 capsules three times week over a period of 12 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the study, pupils should conduct cognitive tests, and blood-, urine- and hair samples will be taken. The pupils should also answer a questionnaire on their diet, physical activity, sleep pattern and mental health.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Schoolmeal with fatty fish Fatty fish diet |
Other: Schoolmeal with fatty fish
Schoolmeal with fatty fish three times a week for 12 weeks
|
| Experimental: Schoolmeal without fish Meat/cheese diet (non-seafood) |
Other: Schoolmeal without fish
Schoolmeal with meat/cheese three times a week for 12 weeks
|
| Experimental: Supplement Omega-3 capsules |
Dietary Supplement: Supplement
Omega-3 capsules three times a week for 12 weeks
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Concentration performance and literary skills [12 weeks]
Age stanardardized d2 test of attention. Abilities in reading and spelleing through a Norwegain based intrument developed to evaluate the childrens literacy skills in the Norwegain language.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Fatty acids [12 weeks]
Levels of fatty acids in red blood cells before and after the intervention
- Vitamin D status [12 weeks]
Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in serum blood before and after the intervention
- Mental health [12 weeks]
Mental health status measured by the Strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ)
- Iodine [12 weeks]
Levels of iodine in urine samples before and after the intervention
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- girls and boys at lower secondary schools (9th grade)
Exclusion Criteria:
- allergy or intolerance to the food or food ingredients in the study
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisbeth Dahl | Bergen | Norway | 5004 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, Norway
- NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS
- University of Tromso
Investigators
- Study Director: Ingvild Eide Graff, PhD, NIFES, PO Box 2029 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- FHF 900842 WP6