Effect of Snacks on Aging

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES · Mar 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how eating different snacks might help with aging. Specifically, researchers want to see if eating 2 ounces of pecans every day for 12 weeks can protect the skin from damage caused by sunlight, compared to eating 3.5 ounces of pretzels. They will also study how these snacks may affect aging by checking blood markers and the types of microbes in the gut.

To participate, you must be a generally healthy woman aged 55 to 75 years, with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 34.9, and have a specific skin type. You should also be willing to stick to your normal diet and exercise routine during the study. Participants will need to come in for visits without makeup or skin products. If you have certain health conditions, allergies, or use specific medications, you may not be eligible. This study is not yet recruiting, so if you're interested, keep an eye out for updates!

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Female
• • Generally healthy
• • Aged 55-75 years
• • BMI 18.5-34.9 kg/m2
• • Fitzpatrick Skin type II-IV
• • Consume a typical Western diet (low in polyphenols-rich foods and fiber)
• • Willing to maintain habitual dietary and exercise patterns for the study duration
• • Willing to maintain normal skin care products and pattern for the duration of the study
• • Willing to come to study visits without any makeup and skin products on
• • Subjects must read and sign the Institutional Review Board-approved written informed consent prior to the initiation of any study specific procedures or enrollment. A subject will be excluded for any condition that might compromise the ability to give truly informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Vegetarian/vegan
• • Known nut allergy
• • Skin-related prescription medication, supplements or non-prescription cosmeceutical agents
• • Initiation of topical or oral prescription steroids and/or anti-inflammatory medications within 30 days prior to study enrollment
• • Excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight
• • Screening laboratory values outside of the normal range that is considered clinically significant for study participation by the investigator
• • Documented chronic disease
• • Taking medications or supplements known to affect gut microbiota composition (antibiotics within the past 3 months, probiotics, fiber, etc.)
• • Taking exogenous hormones (e.g. hormone replacement therapy)
• • Recent weight fluctuations (\>10% in the last 6 months)
• • Smoker or living with a smoker
• • Use of \>20 g of alcohol per day
• • Unable or unwilling to comply with the study protocol (including unwillingness to avoid nuts for the whole duration of the study)
• • Unable to provide consent
• • Pregnancy and/or lactation