MedPath

Dietary changes and markers of stress and depression in freshman bachelor students at Wageningen University

Recruiting
Conditions
stress, despressie en voedingsstatus
mental health
nutritional status
Registration Number
NL-OMON53272
Lead Sponsor
Wageningen Universiteit
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Recruiting
Sex
Not specified
Target Recruitment
225
Inclusion Criteria

• First-time enrolled in a bachelor study at Wageningen University
• Aged 16 years or older during the AID
• Dutch-speaking

Exclusion Criteria

None

Study & Design

Study Type
Observational invasive
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
<p>The main endpoints are changes in dietary habits towards a plant-based diet and<br /><br>changes in stress levels. Diet changes will be expressed as changes in defined<br /><br>meat-based diet categories (questionnaire) and as changes in the consumption of<br /><br>plant protein as a percentage of total protein (FFQ). Stress levels will be<br /><br>assessed with two questionnaires and one biomarker (hair cortisol). Urinary<br /><br>serotonin concentrations will be used as a potential marker for depression and<br /><br>compared to scores on the validated HADS questionnaire for depression and<br /><br>anxiety. </p><br>
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
<p>To assess the nutritional impact of dietary changes, nutritional status over<br /><br>time will be measured crudely as Hb from a capillary (finger) blood sample in<br /><br>all participants and more in-depth (vitamins B6, B12, D, and folic acid) for<br /><br>those who provide a venous blood sample. In the fecal sample at baseline and 6<br /><br>months, pH as a marker of fermentation will be measured. To adjust for<br /><br>confounding variables, additional lifestyle questionnaires and anthropometry<br /><br>will be used. Measurements at 3 and 9 months will be used to study timing of<br /><br>changes.</p><br>
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath