Interaction Between Dairy and Gut Hormone Response on Cognitive Performance in Children.

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Fat-Free Milk: Fat-free milk (500 mL, skim, 0%, Lactantia PurFiltre) will provide 180 kcal, 0.4 g fat, 26 g carbohydrate, and 18 g protein. Treatments matched for calories (180 kcal).

Low-Fat Milk: Low-free milk (346 mL, 2%, Lactantia PurFiltre) will provide 180 kcal, 6.9 g fat, 16.6 g carbohydrate, and 12.5 g protein. Treatments matched for calories (180 kcal).

Full-fat Milk: Full-free milk (281 mL, 3.25%, Lactantia PurFiltre) will provide 180 kcal, 9.0 g fat, 13.5 g carbohydrate, and 10.1 g protein. Treatments matched for calories (180 kcal).

Snack Skipping: Snack skipping (no caloric contribution).

Fat-Free Yogurt: Fat-free Yogurt (242.3 g, Oikos High Protein Vanilla; 0% MF) will provide 180 kcal, 0 g fat, 20.8 g carbohydrate, and 23.5 g protein. Treatments matched for calories (180 kcal).

Low-Fat Yogurt: Low-fat Yogurt (210.0 g, Oikos Original 2% MF) will provide 180 kcal, 3.6 g fat, 21.6 g carbohydrate, and 15.6 g protein. Treatments matched for calories (180 kcal).

Full-Fat Yogurt: Full-fat Yogurt (185.3 g, Oikos Extra Creamy Vanilla 9% MF) will provide 180 kcal, 15.9 g fat, 21.2 g carbohydrate, and 6.4 g protein. Treatments matched for calories (180 kcal).

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the short-term effects of milk and yogurt of varying fat and protein content on cognitive performance in healthy children aged 9 - 14 years; and to provide insight into mechanisms by which dairy consumption may affect cognitive performance through gastrointestinal (GI) hormone responses. The investigators hypothesize that the consumption of dairy products, specifically their protein and fat components, will improve cognitive performance via its interaction with the gut-brain axis in children. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that all milk and yogurt products will enhance cognitive performance over 120- mins compared to snack skipping through its interaction with GI hormones, with a greater effect in higher fat containing milk and yogurt products.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Learning and short-term memory — Immediate measured at 30-minutes post-treatment and delayed at 60- and 120-minutes post-treatment consumption
  Cognitive performance tests will be administered via a Dell tablet (Millisecond, Inquisit Web) and paper/pen. Learning and short-term memory will be assessed using an immediate and delayed Word Recall Test (accuracy).
• Spatial working memory — Change from baseline (measured at 0-minutes before treatment) and at 30-minutes, 60-minutes and 120-minutes post-treatment consumption
  Cognitive performance tests will be administered via a Dell tablet (Millisecond, Inquisit Web) and paper/pen. Spatial working memory will be assessed using the forward and backward versions of the Corsi Block Test (accuracy).
• Sustained Attention — Change from baseline (measured at 0-minutes before treatment) and at 30-minutes, 60-minutes and 120-minutes post-treatment consumption
  Cognitive performance tests will be administered via a Dell tablet (Millisecond, Inquisit Web) and paper/pen. Sustained attention and processing speed will be assessed using the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) (accuracy).
• Executive Function — Change from baseline (measured at 0-minutes before treatment) and at 30-minutes, 60-minutes and 120-minutes post-treatment consumption
  Cognitive performance tests will be administered via a Dell tablet (Millisecond, Inquisit Web) and paper/pen. Executive function and selective attention will be assessed using the Flanker Task (accuracy)

Trial sites (1)

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