Dairy Products for Cognitive Performance in Children

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Toronto Metropolitan University

Must not be taking: Cognitive enhancers

Disqualifiers: Overweight, Food allergies, Learning disabilities, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 1 day per treatment session

48 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines how various types of milk and yogurt might enhance brain function in children. The researchers aim to determine if the protein and fat in these dairy products can improve cognitive skills by interacting with the gut-brain connection. Participants will try fat-free, low-fat, and full-fat versions of milk and yogurt, and their effects will be compared to skipping snacks. Children aged 9 to 14, who are of normal weight and free from allergies or specific health conditions, may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for children to contribute to groundbreaking research on nutrition and brain health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If your child is taking any medications that might affect cognitive performance, they cannot participate in this study.

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

Research has shown that dairy products like milk and yogurt are generally safe for children and are usually well-tolerated. Studies indicate that children aged 6-12 who consume more dairy, whether low-fat or full-fat, tend to have better brain function. This suggests that these dairy products are not harmful and might even support brain health.

Yogurt, in particular, can enhance diet quality by providing important nutrients and may benefit brain function due to its probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria. Similarly, milk, whether fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat, is associated with improved thinking skills and decision-making.

Although some studies raise concerns about the long-term effects of high saturated fat from full-fat dairy on brain health, the overall evidence supports that these dairy products are safe for children when consumed in typical daily amounts. As part of a balanced diet, they are generally safe for kids to enjoy. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about exploring the impact of dairy products on cognitive performance in children because these treatments take a nutritional approach rather than relying on pharmaceuticals. Unlike standard cognitive enhancers that often involve medications, these treatments use everyday food items like fat-free, low-fat, and full-fat milk and yogurt to potentially boost brain function. This method is non-invasive and easy to integrate into daily life, offering a natural alternative to traditional interventions. By studying these dairy-based treatments, researchers hope to uncover simple dietary changes that could enhance learning and memory in children.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cognitive performance in children?

Research has shown that eating dairy products can enhance cognitive function in children. This trial will compare various types of dairy products, including fat-free, low-fat, and full-fat milk, as well as fat-free, low-fat, and full-fat yogurt, to evaluate their effects on cognitive performance. Studies have found that milk protein can improve memory, with children who consumed milk protein scoring 5.5% higher on memory tests. Additionally, increased dairy consumption is associated with improved skills such as problem-solving and attention. Yogurt, particularly those containing probiotics, may also enhance thinking skills by benefiting the gut-brain connection. This suggests that dairy products, regardless of fat content, can boost children's brain power by supporting the gut-brain link. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy children aged 9-14. It's designed to see how different dairy products like milk and yogurt, with varying fat content, affect their thinking skills. Kids who regularly skip snacks are also included to compare effects.

Inclusion Criteria

My weight is within the normal range for my age and sex.

I am between 9 and 14 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

My child is not on medication that affects thinking or concentration.

Children with food sensitivities or allergies to dairy, gluten or any foods used in the study

My child is overweight or obese.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume milk and yogurt of varying fat content, followed by cognitive performance and GI hormone assessments

1 day per treatment session

4 visits (in-person) for each treatment type

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive performance and GI hormone response post-treatment

120 minutes post-treatment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dairy Products

Trial Overview The study tests the impact of various dairy products on kids' cognitive performance over a short period. Researchers will look at how full-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk and yogurt influence brain function through gut hormones after consumption versus skipping snacks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Snack Skipping Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Low-Fat Yogurt Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group III: Low-Fat Milk Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group IV: Full-Fat Yogurt Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group V: Full-Fat Milk Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group VI: Fat-Free Yogurt Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group VII: Fat-Free Milk Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Toronto Metropolitan University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

95

Recruited

19,300+

National Dairy Council

Collaborator

Trials

20

Recruited

1,800+

Dairy Management Inc.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

21

Recruited

2,600+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05767983

Effect of Dairy on Cognitive Performance in Children A randomized within-subject repeated measures experiment will be used to study the effects of dairy product consumption on cognitive performance, subjective ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622163613

Milk Powder Added to a School Meal Increases Cognitive ... Results. Children receiving 8.8 g milk protein/d showed greater increases on percentage correct in Pattern Recognition Memory (mean ± SD: 5.5% ± 16.8%; ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12172951/

Milk free of A1 β-casein supports superior gains in cognition ... The data revealed that A1PF milk improved performance on all three cognitive tests compared with conventional milk, but unexpectedly, this ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.879363/full

Association Between Dairy Intake and Executive Function ... This study shows that a higher intake of dairy, irrespective of fat content, is related to better executive function performance among children aged 6–12.

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07231146?lastUpdPost=2020-01-16_

Interaction Between Dairy and Gut Hormone Response on ... The purpose of this study is to investigate the short-term effects of milk and yogurt of varying fat and protein content on cognitive ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9309784/

Association Between Dairy Intake and Executive Function ... This study shows that a higher intake of dairy, irrespective of fat content, is related to better executive function performance among children aged 6–12.

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/10/1134

Milk Intake at Midlife and Cognitive Decline over 20 Years. ... Those consuming more than 1 glass/day of skim/low-fat milk and those in the 4th quartile of all dairy intake experienced a faster rate of cognitive decline over ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3895502/

Relation between dairy food intake and cognitive function Greater intakes of milk or dairy products have been associated with better general cognitive function (Lee et al., 2001), and decreased likelihood for vascular ...