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Skeletal and Cognitive Effects of Nutrition From Eggs

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Bone Health
Cognitive Health
Interventions
Other: Whole milk powder
Other: Whole egg powder
Other: Gelatin food product
Registration Number
NCT03739424
Lead Sponsor
University of Georgia
Brief Summary

This project is the first egg feeding randomized controlled trial (RCT) in children. The goal of this RCT is to determine if eating formulated whole egg products for 9 months improves bone health and cognitive function in children ages 9-13 years more than children consuming products made of milk powder or gelatin.

Detailed Description

This 9-month randomized controlled trial is an egg product intervention in otherwise healthy, 9-13 year-old children in the early stages of puberty (N=120). It will assess changes in bone material and geometric properties using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Cognitive function will be measured by the National Institute of Health's Toolbox. Participants will be randomized to one of 3 treatment (i.e., whole egg powder, whole milk powder, or gelatin) groups, and instructed to consume the food projects 10 times/week in substitute for other similar food products in their diet for 9-months. Five product choices per treatment group will be provided. The food products were developed specifically for this study by the University of Georgia's Food Product Innovation and Commercialization center and consumer tested. Additionally, these food products will be micro-tested prior to distribution to participants. We hypothesize that children consuming whole egg products will have enhanced bone outcomes and cognitive abilities in comparison to those consuming whole milk powder or gelatin.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
182
Inclusion Criteria
  • Apparently healthy and well-nourished
  • White, Black or Hispanic
  • Males and females between the chronological ages of 9-13 years
  • Sexual maturation rating, as measured by Tanner, at stages 2/3.
  • Must be willing to provide a blood sample
  • Not allergic to egg or egg products, milk or milk products, or gelatin
Exclusion Criteria
  • Achievement of menarche (females)
  • Sexual maturation rating, as measured by Tanner, at stages 4/5
  • Known bone disease or disease know to influence bone metabolism (e.g., cerebral palsy, intestinal malabsorption, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Known growth disorders
  • The use of medications that may influence bone metabolism (e.g., corticosteroids, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications)
  • Allergic to egg or egg products, milk or milk products, or gelatin

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Whole milk powder armWhole milk powderThe whole milk powder arm will be part of our food product intervention. Food products created using whole milk powder will be provided and consumed 10x/week for 9 months. These items will have the equivalent amount of protein as the whole egg group. They will be isocaloric in nature.
Whole egg powder armWhole egg powderThe whole egg powder arm will be part of our food product intervention. Food products created using whole egg powder will be provided and consumed 10x/week for 9 months. Each food item will contain the equivalent of one whole egg.
Gelatin armGelatin food productThe gelatin food products will be a part of our food product intervention. Food products created using gelatin will be provided and consumed 10x/week for 9 months. These items will be isocaloric in nature to the other treatment arms but will not contain additional protein.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body CompositionMeasure changes in body composition from baseline to 4.5 months and 9 months.

Body composition measures (i.e., total body fat mass, fat-free soft tissue mass, and percent body fat) will be assessed by DXA.

Cognitive HealthChanges in cognitive function will be assessed from baseline to 4.5 and 9 months

Cognitive health will be measured using the National Institute of Health's Toolbox. This toolbox for which validity evidence and national norms for children have been provided (Tulsky et al., 2013; Akshoomoff et al., 2014; Weintraub et al., 2013; Zelazo et al., 2013), will measure six cognitive domains: Executive Function, Episodic Memory, Working Memory, Attention, Language Ability, and Processing Speed.

Bone OutcomesAssess changes in bone outcomes from baseline to 9 months

Three-dimensional cortical and trabecular bone geometry measures will be assessed via pQCT at the tibia and radius. Outcome measures from the pQCT will include cortical and trabecular bone mineral density, cortical bone mineral area, total area, periosteal circumference, endosteal circumference, strength strain index, and bone strain index. DXA will be used to assess two-dimensional bone measurements at the lumbar spine, non-dominant hip, forearm, and total body.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Insulin like growth factor 1Serum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in insulin like growth factor 1

Vascular endothelial growth factorSerum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in vascular endothelial growth factor

C-reactive proteinSerum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in C-reactive protein

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1Serum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in monocyte chemoattractant protein 1

Interleukin 6Serum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in interleukin 6

Tumor necrosis factor alphaSerum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in tumor necrosis factor alpha

InsulinSerum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in serum insulin

Serum LipidsSerum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in serum lipids

GlucoseSerum samples will be collected at baseline, 4.5 months and 9 months

Changes in glucose

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Georgia

🇺🇸

Athens, Georgia, United States

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