Nutrition for Brain and Body Health (BB-Health) Feasibility Trial

NCT ID: NCT05542199

Last Updated: 2025-05-06

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

25 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-09-13

Study Completion Date

2024-02-23

Brief Summary

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The goal of the trial is to determine the feasibility of implementing a specific nutrition regimen used alone or in combination with a behavioral weight loss (WL) intervention on cognition and cerebral blood flow in older adults at risk of cognitive decline.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Cognition Obesity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

A 2x2 factorial design in which participants are assigned to the multicomponent nutrition supplement or a placebo, and to participation in a behavioral weight loss intervention or to a wait-list control
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Masking occurs after randomization. Participants and investigators and outcome assessors are masked to the assignment to the nutritional supplement vs placebo. Investigators responsible for the weight loss intervention, and outcome assessors, are masked to the assignment to the behavioral weight loss intervention versus the wait-list control.

Study Groups

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+MCNS+WL

This group receives the multicomponent nutrition supplement and the behavioral weight loss intervention.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Multicomponent nutrition supplement (MCNS)

Intervention Type OTHER

Palatable daily nutrition supplement for 12 months containing approximately 300 kcal and a wide range of nutrients and plant constituents with potential to support brain health and cognition.

Behavioral weight loss program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Enrollment in behavioral weight loss intervention for 12 months modeled on the Diabetes Prevention Program.

-MCNS+WL

This group receives the placebo nutrition supplement and the behavioral weight loss intervention.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Behavioral weight loss program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Enrollment in behavioral weight loss intervention for 12 months modeled on the Diabetes Prevention Program.

+MCNS-WL

This group receives the multicomponent nutrition supplement and is in the control group for the behavioral weight loss intervention (no behavioral intervention during the trial, but participant is wait-listed to receive one after the trial finishes).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Multicomponent nutrition supplement (MCNS)

Intervention Type OTHER

Palatable daily nutrition supplement for 12 months containing approximately 300 kcal and a wide range of nutrients and plant constituents with potential to support brain health and cognition.

-MCNS-WL

This group receives the placebo nutrition supplement and is in the control group for the behavioral weight loss intervention (no behavioral intervention during the trial, but participant is wait-listed to receive one after the trial finishes)

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Multicomponent nutrition supplement (MCNS)

Palatable daily nutrition supplement for 12 months containing approximately 300 kcal and a wide range of nutrients and plant constituents with potential to support brain health and cognition.

Intervention Type OTHER

Behavioral weight loss program

Enrollment in behavioral weight loss intervention for 12 months modeled on the Diabetes Prevention Program.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Adult women and men aged 55-85 years.
2. BMI of 27.0-39.9 kg/m2 at screening (higher BMIs not included at this time to facilitate program adherence);
3. Scores of 34 or greater on the Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M) at screening (85). The purpose of this screen is to ensure that participants can give consent and adhere to the study requirements, including the outcomes testing.
4. Willing to be randomized and participate in all study components, including consuming the foods and supplements, participating in the WL intervention or control meetings, being available for outcome assessments, using the provided home Wi-Fi scale and activity monitor daily, and completing questionnaires, as well as providing the login information for scales and activity monitor so investigators can download the data.
5. Satisfactory screening review of health history questionnaire by nursing staff for relevant factors including no evidence of exclusions listed below. This will include verbal confirmation of completing a course of vaccination against COVID-19 (two doses plus one booster prior to screening visit). The reason for this study component is that live group meetings are planned with other participants, and this will reduce participant risk.
6. Has access to computer or smartphone with Wi-Fi and possesses a freezer at home with space for supplement storage.
7. Rates representative food with characteristics of the MCNS and control foods at least 4 on a 5-point scale of liking at screening, and reports that they are willing to consume the food daily.
8. Average energy intake in 3 24-h dietary recalls is within physiological (i.e., plausible) range.

Exclusion Criteria

1. \>25% percentile in most recent data for US adult population intake for reported DHA/EPA in screening questionnaire for rich food sources, which is equivalent to 2 or more servings of fatty fish/month (86, 87).
2. Regularly taking a multivitamin, cacao/cocoa supplement, choline supplement, DHA/EPA supplement, or any supplement advertised for brain health or cognitive function (\>1/week). Washout period of 2 months accepted.
3. Does not like, or alternatively reports eating \>1 serving per week of \>60% chocolate or cocoa.
4. Severe cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart failure, coronary bypass and valve replacement, coronary bypass or any surgical procedures or signs and symptoms of current severe cardiovascular disease.
5. History of neurological brain disease, including stroke, seizure disorders, traumatic brain injury (moderate to severe); including prior diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease including AD and Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia. Moderate traumatic brain injury is defined by an injury with loss of consciousness.
6. Major psychiatric disorder history (schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, intractable depression).
7. Inadequately controlled hypertension at the discretion of study MD or RN
8. Diabetes Type 1 \& Type 2 or use of any pharmacological treatment for diabetes or HbA1c \>6.5 at screening.
10. History of stomach or bowel resection (other than appendectomy), gastric bypass, or other bariatric weight loss procedure
11. GI diseases, conditions or meds known to influence GI absorption including active peptic ulcer disease or inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), Celiac disease, Cystic Fibrosis, malabsorption disorders, gallbladder disease, acute or chronic pancreatitis or Pancreatic insufficiency
12. Chronic kidney disease or history of kidney stones
13. History of diagnosed eating disorder anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating
14. Active treatment for cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) of any type in ≤ 3 year.
15. Thyroid disease or other significant endocrine disorder
16. Uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia.
17. History of acute or chronic pancreatitis or gall bladder disease.
18. Metabolic disorders or conditions that interfere with nutrient absorption (such as Phenylketonuria, Maple Syrup Urine Disease, glucose-galactose malabsorption, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency or hypophosphatemic rickets.)
19. Dose adjustment to statin or antihypertensive medication within the past 3 months
20. Screening lab results outside the normal parameters that may interfere with study outcomes at the discretion of study MD
21. Inadequate venous access or history of a bilateral mastectomy with nodal dissection
22. Recent history of inflammatory diseases (for example: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
23. Active WL, or weight change \> 4 kg in past 6 months.
24. Consuming a restrictive diet (e.g. gluten-free, vegan, Paleolithic diet).
25. Self-reported allergy to any ingredient in the provided intervention foods.
26. Self-reported severe allergy to adhesives.
27. Unwilling to use a mobile phone or computer with videoconference software to participate in intervention group meetings. Unwilling to eat on camera.
28. Reports of consumption of \> 2 alcoholic drinks per day on average or \>14/week (168oz beer/56oz wine/14oz hard liquor.)
29. Reports of consumption of \> 2 cups of green or black tea per day on average.
30. Reports of use of recreational and/or illegal drugs.
31. Regular smoking or vaping tobacco or marijuana including the use of edibles within the last 6 months (greater than once a week)
32. Non-English speakers.
33. No social security number (required for stipend payment).
Minimum Eligible Age

55 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Florida

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of New Hampshire

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tufts University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

Locations

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Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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2273

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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