Pecan Consumption and Cognitive Function
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Human cognitive function is affected by age-related changes, with some areas beginning to decline in mid-adulthood and worsening with age. However, there is evidence that dietary interventions or the incorporation of certain healthy foods or nutrients, into the diet can have protective effects against cognitive decline. These foods include nutrients such as polyunsaturated fats, vitamins E and C, and polyphenols. Pecans are a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants (including polyphenols), and vitamin E. Pecans contain more total phenols than any other tree nut suggesting that they may be an ideal bioactive food to enhance cognitive performance; however, the relationship between pecan consumption and cognitive functioning has never been assessed. The overall goal behind this research is to determine the relationship between antioxidant-rich pecans and cognitive functioning in a postprandial state.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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N/A |
Detailed Description
This trial will be a double-blinded, randomized, cross-over design in humans. There will be two study visits for two different test meals administered in random order. The two testing visits (v1 and v2) include blood draws and repetitions of the cognitive battery after consuming one of the two different test meals containing 1% milk, Nesquik, and either: 1) pecans, or 2) heavy whipping cream. There will be a 6-8 day washout period between each study visit.
Hypothesis: Investigators hypothesize that the pecan-enriched meal will 1.) improve performance on select measures of postprandial cognitive functioning (such as executive functioning, memory, learning, attention, and processing speed) 2.) improve postprandial markers of glycemic control, inflammation, antioxidant capacity, coagulation potential, and 3.) present a similar suppression of subjective appetite compared to the isocaloric, control meal that does not contain pecans.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Pecan Breakfast Shake Participants will be given a breakfast shake consisting primarily of pecans, and 1% milk. |
Other: Pecan Breakfast Shake
The pecan breakfast shake contains 68 grams of blended raw pecans. Participants will consume this shake at either visit 1 or visit 2 depending on randomization procedures.
|
| Active Comparator: Cream Breakfast Shake Participants will be given a breakfast shake consisting primarily of heavy whipping cream. |
Other: Cream Breakfast Shake
The cream breakfast shake contains 138 grams of heavy whipping cream. Participants will consume this shake at either visit 1 or visit 2 depending on randomization procedures.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in Alphabetic Working Memory, Choice Reaction Time, Digit Vigilance, N-back test, Word Recognition, Rapid Visual Information Processing, Picture Recognition, Immediate Word Recall, and Delayed Word Recall [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Measured by Computerized Mental Performance Assessment System (COMPASS) computed scores of percent accuracy (total overall target stimuli/novel stimuli) Brain, Performance, and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University
- Change in Serial Subtractions, Immediate Word Recall, and Delayed Word Recall. [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Measured by Computerized Mental Performance Assessment System (COMPASS) computed scores of the number of responses (total correct responses/error responses) Brain, Performance, and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University
- Change in Alphabetic Working Memory, Choice Reaction Time, Digit Vigilance, N-back, Picture Recognition, Rapid Visual Information Processing, Word Recognition. [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Measured by Computerized Mental Performance Assessment System (COMPASS) computed scores of reaction time (msec) (overall, correct response, target stimuli, novel stimuli, number of false alarms, and number of missed sequences) Brain, Performance, and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change in glucose and triglycerides [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Blood samples will be collected to measure Glucose (mg/dL), Triglycerides (mg/dL)
- Change in physiologic measures of appetite [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Blood samples will be collected to measure Peptide YY (PYY) (pg/mL), Cholecystokinin (CCK) (pg/mL), Ghrelin (pg/mL), Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) (pg/mL), Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP) (pg/mL), pancreatic peptide (PP) (pg/mL).
- Change in lipid peroxidation [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Malondialdehyde (MDA) (uM) measured via Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay.
- Change in insulin [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Insulin (uU/mL)
- Change in non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
NEFA (mEq/L)
- Change in angiopoietin-like proteins-3 (ANGPTL3), angiopoietin-like-4 (ANGPTL4), and angiopoietin-like-8 (ANGPTL8) [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
ANGPTL-3 (pg/mL), ANGPTL-4 (pg/mL), ANGPTL-8 (pg/mL)
- Change in subjective measures of appetite [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially. Also measured every hour for 10 hours after subject leaves the lab.]
Appetite Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (mm). The range of scores on the continuous VAS is 0-100 mm. Zero represents no hunger, fullness, prospective consumption, and desire to eat, while 100 represents the greatest feeling of these outcomes.
- Change in total antioxidant capacity [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Total antioxidant capacity (uM trolox equivalents) measured via Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay.
- Change in oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (mg/dL)
Other Outcome Measures
- Change in subjective measures of motivation [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Motivation Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (mm). The range of scores on the continuous VAS is 0-100 mm. Zero represents no motivation while 100 represents the greatest feeling of this outcome.
- Change in subjective measures of alertness, stress, and tranquility [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Computerized Mental Performance Assessment System (COMPASS) - Brain, Performance, and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University. Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS) (mm). The range of scores on the continuous VAS is 0-100 mm. Zero represents lesser feeling of alertness, stress, and tranquility, while 100 represents the greatest feeling of these outcomes.
- Change in subjective degree of sleepiness [Change from baseline to 4 hours postprandially]
Stanford Sleepiness Scale, in which the scale is rated from 1 to 7. A rating of 1 indicates feelings of being wide awake/alert/vital/active and a rating of 7 indicates the greatest feelings of sleepiness.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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18 to 30-years-old
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Healthy individuals
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Men and Women
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Normal body mass index (BMI) (18.5-24.9kg/m2). If BMI is 25 or greater, subjects can still qualify if their body fat percentage falls within healthy ranges defined as Men: 5-20%, and Women: 15-30% [22]
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Individuals with normal or corrected to normal vision
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Low-risk alcohol use as assessed by the AUDIT questionnaire (need a score of 7 or lower)
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No or minimal depression symptoms as indicated by the Beck's Depression Inventory (need a score of 9 or lower)
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Cognitive competence for education level and age as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (need a score of 26 or higher)
Exclusion Criteria:
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All chronic diseases (including, but not limited to, renal or bowel diseases, cardiovascular disease, and any form of diabetes)
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Known neurological, cognitive, or psychiatric conditions (including, but not limited to, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression)
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Prescription medication use (with the exception of female contraception methods)
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Dietary supplement use (including, but not limited to, multivitamins and fish oil supplements)
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Alcohol intake >3 drinks/d for males or >2 drinks/d for females
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Diagnosis of ADHD or a learning difficulty (including, but not limited to, dyslexia)
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History of head injury (defined as loss of consciousness more than 10 minutes)
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History of inflammatory disorders (including, but not limited to, migraines, stroke, hypertension, hypercoagulation, vascular disease, thyroid conditions, blood disorders, coagulation disorders)
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Food allergies/sensitivities to foods provided in this protocol including tree nuts, gluten, and or lactose/dairy
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Regular consumption of nuts and/or nut butters defined as consumption of >2 servings (60g) of tree nuts or nut butters (e.g., peanut butter, almond butter) per week
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High caffeine consumption, defined as >400mg/d
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Individuals adhering to special diets (including, but not limited to, the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, Atkins diet, vegan diet, vegetarian diet, or carbohydrate-restricted diets)
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Illicit drug use
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Smoking or use of tobacco products
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Color-blindness
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History of current renal or bowel disease
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Females who are currently pregnant or lactating
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Active individuals (defined as performing >5 hours/week of scheduled exercise)
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Georgia- Department of Foods and Nutrition | Athens | Georgia | United States | 30605 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Georgia
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Jamie A Cooper, PhD, University of Georgia
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- PROJECT00004889