Synergistic Activity of Human Milk Nutrients and Infant Cognition

NCT ID: NCT03838536

Last Updated: 2025-03-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

84 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-02-05

Study Completion Date

2026-03-31

Brief Summary

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Purpose: To establish a whole food, egg, as a viable study material to supplement mothers and infants with nutrients that support optimal brain development. There will be 84 breastfeeding dyads, 3 months postnatal.

Mothers will be randomized to a whole egg or egg white (due to lack of an appropriate control food). Initial diet intake will be screened using the NDSR. Participants will come to the lab 3 times across 3 months (age 3 months, 4.5 months, and 6 months). Milk, saliva, and plasma will be collected from the mother, while saliva and plasma (heel stick) are collected from the infant. Diet data will be collected at each visit. The infant will complete a recognition memory test using electrophysiology at 6 months as well as the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 4.5 months. The mother will complete a temperament questionnaire at 3 months and 6 months.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Breastfeeding, Exclusive

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants will be randomized to whole egg or egg white powder to consume throughout the study.
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
The participants will be given a jar of egg powder without labeling and they will not be aware of which they receive (egg white or whole egg).

Study Groups

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Whole egg powder

Participants are given whole egg powder which contains high levels of the nutrients choline, lutein, and docosahexaenoic acid.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Whole Egg Powder

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Breastfeeding mothers will consume the equivalent of 5 whole eggs per week for 3 months.

Egg white powder

The participants are given an egg white powder that does not contain the target nutrients (choline, lutein, and docosahexaenoic acid).

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Egg White Powder

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Breastfeeding mothers will consume the equivalent of 5 egg whites per week for 3 months.

Interventions

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Whole Egg Powder

Breastfeeding mothers will consume the equivalent of 5 whole eggs per week for 3 months.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Egg White Powder

Breastfeeding mothers will consume the equivalent of 5 egg whites per week for 3 months.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* infant is 12-15 weeks of age at enrollment
* healthy, lactating mother age 18-35
* gave birth at \>38 weeks gestation without remarkable incident
* consuming \<=50% of the recommended amounts of 2 of the 3, DHA, choline, and lutein

Exclusion Criteria

* infant with diagnosis or documented suspicion of developmental delay
* egg allergy or family history of egg allergy
* gestational diabetes
* any documented seizure activity
Minimum Eligible Age

3 Months

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Egg Nutrition Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Carol L Cheatham, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Locations

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Nutrition Research Institute

Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Carol L Cheatham, PhD

Role: CONTACT

704-250-5010

Study Coordinator

Role: CONTACT

704-250-5018

Other Identifiers

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18-2216

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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