Trout Consumption for Brain Health

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Matt Powell, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Idaho

Disqualifiers: Fish allergy, dietary restrictions

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

99 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Regular fish consumption may support brain health. Trout lines developed in Idaho contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients important for human cognition and mental wellbeing. Developed to support aquaculture sustainability, consumer preferences and human health benefits of these fish are unknown. The long-term goal of this project is to utilize nutrition education strategies to increase adult and child consumption of fish to improve brain health as measured by cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Research objectives and activities include, (1) adult and child consumer panels to provide sensory evaluation on three strains of trout, (2) effects of repeated exposure (RE) and child-centered nutrition phrases (CCNP) on eating behaviors and brain health will be determined using one control and two treatment groups of children in childcare settings, (3) effects of nutrition education, incorporating CCNP and fish preparation techniques, and RE targeting family meals on eating behaviors of children and brain health of adults and children will be determined using four treatment groups in the home setting.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment 'Trout Consumption for Brain Health'?

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA found in fish like trout, are important for brain development and function. Studies have shown that children who consume omega-3s have improved cognitive abilities, such as better attention and problem-solving skills. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is fish oil or omega-3 supplementation safe for humans?

Research shows that fish oil and omega-3 supplements, which include DHA and EPA, are generally well tolerated and safe for children, even when used for various developmental and behavioral conditions. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

How does trout consumption as a treatment for brain health differ from other treatments?

Trout consumption is unique because it provides a natural source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as DHA and EPA, which are important for brain development and cognitive function. Unlike supplements, eating trout offers these nutrients in their natural form, potentially leading to better absorption and utilization by the body. ^{1 2 5 6 8}

Research Team

Annie J Roe, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Idaho

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young children and their families, specifically aimed at those interested in the potential cognitive and mental health benefits of eating trout rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Participants should be willing to engage with nutrition education strategies, sensory evaluations of trout strains, and possibly change their eating habits.

Inclusion Criteria

My child is between 4-6 years old and speaks English.

My child is between 4-9 years old, we speak English or Spanish, have internet, and eat fish less than twice a week.

Exclusion Criteria

Allergy or dietary restriction preventing consuming fish

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Sensory Evaluation

Participants provide sensory evaluation on three strains of trout

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Repeated Exposure

Participants receive 2 oz of trout each week for 10 weeks, with some groups receiving additional nutrition education

10 weeks

Nutrition Education

Participants receive Eat Smart Idaho's standard 6-lesson in-person series of classes and may view an online trout-specific nutrition education video series

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in emotion and cognition scores after the intervention

12 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Child-centered nutrition phrases

Trial Overview The study tests whether increased consumption of a specific type of trout high in omega-3s can improve brain health. It involves taste testing different trout strains, using child-centered nutrition phrases (CCNP), and repeated exposure to fish during meals both at childcare settings and home.

Participant Groups

Group I: Objective 3: Repeated Exposure Plus Child Centered Nutrition Phrases Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Receive Eat Smart Idaho's standard 6-lesson in-person series of classes, AND receive 2 servings of trout per week for 12 weeks, to prepare at home and consume (2 oz. serving for child and 4 oz. serving for adult), AND asked to view an online trout-specific nutrition education and recipe preparation video series, "About Trout! Pond to Plate."

Group II: Objective 3: Repeated Exposure Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Receive Eat Smart Idaho's standard 6-lesson in-person series of classes AND receive 2 servings of trout per week for 12 weeks, to prepare at home and consume (2 oz. serving for child and 4 oz. serving for adult).

Group III: Objective 3: Child-Centered Nutrition Phrases Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Receive Eat Smart Idaho's standard 6-lesson in-person series of classes AND asked to view an online trout-specific nutrition education and recipe preparation video series, "About Trout! Pond to Plate."

Group IV: Objective 2: Repeated Exposure Plus Child-Centered Nutrition Phrases Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

2 oz of trout each week plus exposure to positive nutrition message about trout each week for 10 weeks

Group V: Objective 2: Repeated Exposure Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

2 oz of trout each week for 10 weeks

Group VI: Objective 1: Sensory Evaluation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

three different strains of trout (fish-meal diet, CX line, CLX line)

Group VII: Objective 3: Eat Smart Idaho Active Control 1 Intervention

Only receive Eat Smart Idaho's standard 6-lesson in-person series of classes

Group VIII: Objective 2: Puzzle Game Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Exposure to a puzzle game each week for 10 weeks

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Idaho

Lead Sponsor

Trials

21

Recruited

2,800+

Washington State University

Collaborator

Trials

114

Recruited

58,800+

Findings from Research

Supplementing infants with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) like DHA and ARA is linked to improved language, communication skills, and executive functions such as planning and attention control, based on various studies.

Long-term benefits of LC-PUFA supplementation have been observed, with children aged 3-6 years showing better performance in tests of impulsivity and attention control, suggesting that DHA has a dose-response effect on cognitive development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Nutrition on the Development of Higher-Order Cognition. Willatts, P.[2019]

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial involving 60 low-risk pregnant women found that antenatal omega-3 supplementation (1440 mg/day of DHA) did not show immediate differences in child development compared to a placebo, but the omega-3 group demonstrated improved developmental scores over the first six months of life.

Children of mothers who took omega-3 showed less difficulty with routine behaviors compared to those whose mothers received the placebo, suggesting that omega-3 supplementation may have a positive impact on child behavior during early development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does antenatal supplementation with omega-3 affect child development and behavior during the first six months of life? A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Sousa, TM., Ferreira, LA., Osanan, GC., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 409 children aged 3-13 years, supplementation with fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids led to significant improvements in non-verbal cognitive development, as measured by the Draw-A-Person test, particularly among Indigenous children aged 7-12.

While the fish oil treatment showed benefits in cognitive development, there were no significant effects on reading or spelling skills, suggesting that omega-3 supplementation may specifically enhance certain cognitive functions rather than overall academic performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of fish oil supplementation on learning and behaviour of children from Australian Indigenous remote community schools: a randomised controlled trial. Parletta, N., Cooper, P., Gent, DN., et al.[2013]

Children who were primarily fed breast milk or DHA-fortified formula in their first 6 months had higher IQ scores at age 4 compared to those fed unfortified formula, suggesting a potential benefit of these feeding methods.

However, after adjusting for factors like maternal IQ and education, the advantage of breastfeeding was less pronounced, while DHA-fortified formula still showed a significant increase in IQ scores, indicating that maternal characteristics may play a larger role in cognitive outcomes than previously thought.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breastfeeding, the use of docosahexaenoic acid-fortified formulas in infancy and neuropsychological function in childhood. Gale, CR., Marriott, LD., Martyn, CN., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 205 children aged 4-6 years, those who consumed farmed Atlantic salmon three times a week showed significant increases in the levels of beneficial fatty acids EPA and DHA compared to those who ate meat.

While the salmon group demonstrated modest improvements in specific cognitive tasks (symbol search and picture concepts), there were no significant differences in overall cognitive scores, suggesting that salmon intake may have a limited impact on certain aspects of cognitive performance rather than overall IQ.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of Atlantic salmon consumption on the cognitive performance of preschool children - A randomized controlled trial. Demmelmair, H., Øyen, J., Pickert, T., et al.[2020]

DHA supplementation during pregnancy, lactation, or childhood is linked to improved neurodevelopment in children, with studies showing positive effects on cognitive and visual functions.

Supplementation with DHA and EPA is generally well tolerated and may also aid in managing childhood psychiatric disorders and enhance motor functions in children with specific conditions, although further research is needed to establish optimal dosing.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on neurodevelopment in childhood: a review of human studies. Ryan, AS., Astwood, JD., Gautier, S., et al.[2022]

A study involving 90 children with ADHD found that increasing levels of omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in the blood were linked to improvements in spelling, attention, and reductions in hyperactivity and oppositional behavior.

Although the overall treatment groups did not show significant differences, the results suggest that higher erythrocyte levels of DHA and EPA may positively influence cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children with ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased Erythrocyte Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Are Associated With Improved Attention and Behavior in Children With ADHD in a Randomized Controlled Three-Way Crossover Trial. Milte, CM., Parletta, N., Buckley, JD., et al.[2018]

There is a growing trend among parents to use omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as supplements for children with developmental disorders, based on the belief that these natural products are safe.

However, the current evidence supporting the efficacy of PUFA supplementation for improving conditions like attention deficit and poor motor coordination is weak and remains uncertain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

On fish oil and omega-3 supplementation in children: the role of such supplementation on attention and cognitive dysfunction. Gadoth, N.[2008]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Nutrition on the Development of Higher-Order Cognition. [2019]

2. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does antenatal supplementation with omega-3 affect child development and behavior during the first six months of life? A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. [2023]

3. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of fish oil supplementation on learning and behaviour of children from Australian Indigenous remote community schools: a randomised controlled trial. [2013]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breastfeeding, the use of docosahexaenoic acid-fortified formulas in infancy and neuropsychological function in childhood. [2021]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of Atlantic salmon consumption on the cognitive performance of preschool children - A randomized controlled trial. [2020]

6. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on neurodevelopment in childhood: a review of human studies. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased Erythrocyte Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Are Associated With Improved Attention and Behavior in Children With ADHD in a Randomized Controlled Three-Way Crossover Trial. [2018]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

On fish oil and omega-3 supplementation in children: the role of such supplementation on attention and cognitive dysfunction. [2008]