Snacks for Aging

Overseen By Tatiana Diacova, PhD, RD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

Must not be taking: Steroids, Anti-inflammatories, Antibiotics, others

Disqualifiers: Nut allergy, Chronic disease, Smoker, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 12 weeks

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how daily snacking on pecans or pretzels for 12 weeks might protect the skin from UV light damage. Researchers aim to determine if these snacks can help the skin resist damage and reduce the oxidation of skin fats and oils. They will also examine how these snacks might affect aging by analyzing blood markers and gut microbes. This trial is ideal for generally healthy women aged 55-75 who follow a typical Western diet and are willing to maintain their usual diet and skincare habits during the study. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on everyday foods and their potential skin-protective benefits.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking certain medications, such as skin-related prescription medications, supplements, or non-prescription skin agents, as well as any medications or supplements that affect gut bacteria. If you are taking these, you may need to stop before joining the study.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

A previous study found that eating pecans daily for four weeks improved cholesterol levels and the health of small blood vessels in older adults. Research has also shown that consuming nuts, such as pecans, might enhance memory and reduce the risk of frailty with age. These findings suggest that pecans are generally well-tolerated and may offer health benefits.

In contrast, pretzels present a different case. Some studies indicate that consuming salty snacks like pretzels can raise blood pressure, increasing the heart's workload. This could be concerning, particularly for individuals with high blood pressure or heart issues.

Overall, pecans appear to offer more positive health effects with fewer risks compared to pretzels. However, consulting a healthcare provider before making dietary changes is advisable, especially for those with health concerns. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these treatments because they explore the potential of everyday snacks—pecans and pretzels—as tools to support healthy aging. Unlike typical interventions that might involve medications or supplements, this trial focuses on whole foods, emphasizing convenience and natural sources of nutrients. Pecans are packed with antioxidants and healthy fats, which might offer cognitive and cardiovascular benefits. On the other hand, pretzels, while not typically considered a health food, could provide insights into the effects of carbohydrates and salts on aging. This unique approach is appealing because it could lead to simple dietary recommendations that are easy to incorporate into daily life.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for aging?

This trial will compare the effects of consuming pecans versus pretzels on health as people age. Research has shown that eating pecans might improve health, with studies indicating that older adults who consumed many pecans had better cholesterol levels and healthier blood vessels. Pecans have also been linked to improved brain function, particularly in memory. Participants in the trial's pecan arm will consume 2 oz of pecans daily for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, participants in the pretzel arm will consume 3.5 oz of pretzel snacks daily for 12 weeks. Evidence does not strongly support pretzels offering the same health benefits, as they are typically viewed as a tasty snack without the same positive effects on aging. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, Los Angeles

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women aged 55-75 with a BMI of 18.5-34.9, who have a certain skin type and eat a Western diet low in polyphenols and fiber. They must be generally healthy, not use makeup during visits, and keep their usual diet and exercise routine. Exclusions include vegetarians/vegans, nut allergies, pregnancy, significant lab abnormalities, high alcohol intake or recent weight changes.

Inclusion Criteria

BMI 18.5-34.9 kg/m2

I am between 55 and 75 years old.

Fitzpatrick Skin type II-IV

Exclusion Criteria

Vegetarian/vegan

Known nut allergy

Pregnancy and/or lactation

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume either 2 oz of pecans or 3.5 oz of pretzel snacks daily to evaluate antioxidant effects and aging mechanisms

12 weeks

Baseline and week 12 visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Pecan
• Pretzel

Trial Overview The study tests if eating pecans versus pretzels daily over 12 weeks affects aging by improving skin's defense against UV light damage and oxidative stress to fats/oils and genes in the skin. It also examines blood markers of aging and gut microbiome changes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Pretzel arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will consume 3.5 oz of pretzel snacks daily for 12 weeks

Group II: Pecan arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participats in this arm will be comsuming 2 oz of pecans daily for 12 wekks

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Los Angeles

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,594

Recruited

10,430,000+

American Pecan Promotion Board

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

60+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 54 overweight and obese adults, consuming mixed nuts as a snack led to lower levels of appetite hormones like leptin and ghrelin, indicating increased satiety without raising blood glucose or insulin levels.

In contrast, pretzel consumption resulted in higher subjective satiety and lower hunger but also caused significant increases in glucose and insulin, suggesting that mixed nuts may be a healthier snack option for weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mixed Nuts May Promote Satiety While Maintaining Stable Blood Glucose and Insulin in Healthy, Obese, and Overweight Adults in a Two-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial. Godwin, N., Roberts, T., Hooshmand, S., et al.[2019]

A pilot study involving 12 Meals on Wheels clients showed that providing high protein, high energy snacks significantly improved nutritional status, with a notable increase in energy and protein intake, and a reduction in the number of clients categorized as malnourished.

The study found that while the additional snacks led to increased body weight and BMI, only half of the participants expressed interest in continuing the program, indicating that not all clients recognized the benefits of the snacks for their health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"It could probably help someone else but not me": a feasibility study of a snack programme offered to meals on wheels clients. Charlton, KE., Walton, K., Moon, L., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531723000015

Pecan-enriched diet improves cholesterol profiles and ... Daily pecan consumption for 4 weeks improved fasting and postprandial blood lipids and microvascular reactivity in older adults.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06879626

Study Details | NCT06879626 | Effect of Snacks on Aging The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of incorporating 2 oz of pecans into diet compared to isocaloric pretzel snacks daily for 12 weeks 1) on whole ...

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37638838/

A 4-Week Pecan-Enriched Diet Improves Postprandial ... Few studies assessing the effect of a pecan-enriched diet on such health outcomes suggest potential improvements to cardiometabolic health; however, this has

4. news-medical.net news-medical.net/health/Pecans-and-Health-Evidence-from-Clinical-Studies.aspx

Pecans and Health: Evidence from Clinical Studies Higher tree nut intake has been associated with better cognitive function in older adults, particularly in domains such as memory and executive ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/365062529_Effects_of_a_4-week_pecan-enriched_diet_on_cognitive_function_in_healthy_older_adults

(PDF) Effects of a 4-week pecan-enriched diet on cognitive ... Findings revealed an overall decline in learning-related cognitive and brain outcomes during healthy aging. However, declines were more ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6719153/

Health Benefits of Nut Consumption in Middle-Aged and ... Therefore, increased consumption of bioactive antioxidant compounds from nuts clearly impacts many risk factors related to aging and can extend ...

7. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jhn.13208

Association between nut consumption and frailty in the ... The study concluded that nut consumption has a constructive impact on averting frailty in elderly adults, particularly in nonhypertensive individuals.