Penn State University
The proposed study will examine whether eating yogurt every day can improve brain and gut health in children. Prior research suggests that yogurt may support cognitive functions like self-control, but more studies are needed to confirm this. The study will follow 60 children from Central Pennsylvania, ages 8 to 10, who will be randomly assigned to drink either fruit juice (control group) or yogurt smoothies once or twice a day for four weeks. Researchers will compare how different amounts of yogurt affect children's thinking skills (like memory and focus), brain activity, and gut bacteria. These changes will be measured through brain scans, computer-based thinking tasks, surveys, and stool samples. The study will also collect information about children's overall diet. The goal is to find out if yogurt can support healthy brain and gut development and to determine the right amount to include in a child's daily diet. Results will help guide future research on how nutrition supports children's health.
This study is a randomized, between group, dose-response study. Children will be randomly assigned to either receive the control (fruit juice) or a dosage of the experimental yogurt smoothie (1x versus 2x daily) for 4 weeks. Blinding will be established so that researchers do not know which group children are assigned to and families do not know which smoothie is expected to change outcomes. Children will be advised to minimize additional consumption of fermented dairy during the intervention (besides the yogurt provided). Outcomes will be measured at 2 timepoints: immediately before and imme…
Inclusion Criteria: * Children should be of good health, without presence of any metabolic, gastrointestinal, or developmental disorders (e.g., ADHD, autism, etc.). * Children should not be taking medications that impact appetite or cognitive function. * Children must be willing to consume and report liking the fermented dairy smoothie. * Children should be between the ages of 7-9 years-old at enrollment. * Children should speak English fluently. Exclusion Criteria: * They are not within the age requirements (\< 7 years-old or \> 9 years-old) at baseline. * They have known emotional or cogn…
Children consume one yogurt smoothie per day for 4 weeks (93 mL and \~70 kcal).
Children consume two yogurt smoothies per day for 4 weeks (186 mL and \~140 kcal).
Children consume one fruit juice per day for 4 weeks (\~140 kcal, isocaloric with 2 yogurt smoothie).
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