Healthy Eating for Aging

Overseen By Courtney Peterson, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Must not be taking: Chronic condition medications

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 24 weeks

90 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes individuals who regularly use medications for chronic medical conditions, so you would need to stop taking such medications to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the DiAL Health Research Study treatment?

Research shows that smaller, energy and protein-enriched meals can significantly improve energy and nutrient intake in elderly patients, which suggests that focusing on nutrition can be beneficial for older adults. Additionally, senior centers have been successful in improving nutrition and health perceptions among attendees, indicating that structured nutritional programs can positively impact older adults' health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the DiAL Health Research Study treatment differ from other treatments for healthy aging?

The DiAL Health Research Study focuses on a healthy diet as a treatment for aging, emphasizing plant-based foods to support various aspects of health like cognition and vitality, which is different from other treatments that may not prioritize dietary patterns. This approach is unique because it targets multiple domains of healthy aging through nutrition, a modifiable factor, rather than relying on medications or supplements. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to conduct a five-arm pilot and feasibility trial in healthy, young individuals without obesity to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of dietary intervention approaches to slow mechanisms of aging.

Eligibility Criteria

The DiAL Health Research Study is for healthy individuals aged 25-45 with a BMI between 22 and below 30, who have maintained a stable weight recently, wake up early, and don't use chronic medications. Excluded are those with serious health conditions, pregnant or lactating women, heavy smokers or drinkers, extreme athletes, and people with unconventional eating habits.

Inclusion Criteria

Your body mass index (BMI) is between 22 and 30, which is considered a healthy weight range.

Stable body weight (less than ± 2kg) in the past 6 months

Regularly wake up between 5-8 AM

Exclusion Criteria

Depression as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory-II > 19

Pregnant, postpartum (< 12 months) or lactating females or attempting to become pregnant in the next 7 months

My bone density test shows a score lower than -2.0 in my hip or spine.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized to one of five dietary intervention groups: ad libitum Control, Traditional CR, Adaptive CR, Traditional TRE, or Adaptive TRE for 24 weeks

24 weeks

Regular in-person or remote sessions depending on the group

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adherence and satisfaction with the intervention

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• DiAL Health Research Study

Trial Overview This study tests the effectiveness of different dietary interventions aimed at slowing aging processes in young adults without obesity. It's a pilot trial with five groups to see which diet might help improve treatment compliance and support weight loss while promoting healthier aging.

Participant Groups

Group I: Traditional CR Active Control 1 Intervention

A 25% calorie restriction (CR) intervention delivered via traditional in-person sessions.

Group II: Adaptive CR Active Control 1 Intervention

A 25% calorie restriction (CR) intervention delivered via a remote, adaptive, and technology-driven intervention program.

Group III: Traditional TRE Active Control 1 Intervention

An eight-hour time restricted eating (TRE) intervention delivered via traditional in-person sessions.

Group IV: Adaptive TRE Active Control 1 Intervention

An eight-hour time restricted eating (TRE) intervention delivered via a remote, adaptive, and technology driven intervention program.

Group V: ad libitum Control Placebo Group 1 Intervention

No treatment control condition.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

314

Recruited

183,000+

References

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

Nutrition-related care needs of older patients in hospital: A qualitative multimethod study. [2023]

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

Senior Centers and Nutritional Outcomes: A Texas Example. [2018]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Challenges in the Management of Geriatric Obesity in High Risk Populations. [2022]

4. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smaller but energy and protein-enriched meals improve energy and nutrient intakes in elderly patients. [2013]

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

A nutritional assessment of homebound elderly in a physician-monitored population. [2019]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Healthy Diet for Healthy Aging. [2022]

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

Validation of a Diet Quality Screening Tool for Use in the Oldest Old. [2022]

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

Inadequate nutrient intakes are common and are associated with low diet variety in rural, community-dwelling elderly. [2018]

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

Nutrition as a determinant of successful aging: description of the Quebec longitudinal study Nuage and results from cross-sectional pilot studies. [2013]

10. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Older Australians' perceptions and practices in relation to a healthy diet for old age: a qualitative study. [2021]