Walnuts, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and adolescent brain development: protocol for the Walnuts Smart Snack dietary intervention trial

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• dc.contributor.author Julvez, Jordi
• dc.contributor.author Gignac, Florence
• dc.contributor.author Fernández-Barrés, Sílvia
• dc.contributor.author Romaguera Bosch, Dora
• dc.contributor.author Sala Vila, Aleix
• dc.contributor.author Ranzani, Otavio
• dc.contributor.author Persavento, Cecilia
• dc.contributor.author Delgado, Ana
• dc.contributor.author Carol, Albert
• dc.contributor.author Torrent, Jaume
• dc.contributor.author Gonzalez, Judith
• dc.contributor.author Roso, Eduard
• dc.contributor.author Barrera Gómez, Jose
• dc.contributor.author López Vicente, Mònica, 1988-
• dc.contributor.author Garcia-Esteban, Raquel
• dc.contributor.author Forns i Guzman, Joan, 1981-
• dc.contributor.author Burgaleta Díaz, Miguel, 1981-
• dc.contributor.author Sebastián Gallés, Núria
• dc.contributor.author Basagaña Flores, Xavier
• dc.contributor.author Sunyer Deu, Jordi
• dc.date.accessioned 2022-02-23T07:33:13Z
• dc.date.available 2022-02-23T07:33:13Z
• dc.date.issued 2021
• dc.description.abstract Background: Adolescence, when the most complex behaviors are refined to adult sophistication, represents a major window of opportunity and vulnerability for neuropsychological development. To support and protect this complex and active brain growth, different nutritional components considered essential need to be acquired from the diet. For instance, omega-3 fatty acids are mainly obtained from seafood, seeds, and walnuts. Known for their rich lipid profile, walnuts contain sizable amounts of an essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid that is the precursor of two longer-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA): docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids. While there is growing evidence of neuropsychological improvements in the young developing brain associated with omega-3 PUFA intake, few studies have examined whether consuming walnuts during adolescence entails similar beneficial effects. There is a need to further explore the ways in which walnuts influence youthful brain function, particularly for the long-term. Thus, we designed the WALNUTs study (WSS), a population-based randomized controlled trial conducted in adolescents in Barcelona, Spain. We hypothesize that walnut intake will increase omega-3 PUFA tissue availability (particularly ALA) to a level that enhances the neuropsychological development during adolescence. Methodology/Design: We conducted a 6-month population-based randomized controlled trial in teenagers (n = 800) and we aimed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention (four walnuts per day, or 30 kernel g, ~1.5g of ALA) in enhancing brain neuropsychological and socio-emotional development compared to a control group with no walnut intervention. Before randomization, different neuropsychological tests were recorded for all participants, and blood samples (in a subsample of participants) were collected to measure omega-3 PUFA levels at baseline, and all again, after randomization and the intervention. The data is now collected and we will conduct linear regression models to assess the effect of the intervention. Discussion: The WALNUTs (WSS) study results will allow us to better understand the role of plant-based omega-3 PUFA intake from regular walnut consumption on neuropsychological development during adolescence. Results could be translated into nutritional public health recommendations targeting teenagers. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health # NCT02590848. Retrospectively registered 29/10/2015.
• dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
• dc.identifier.citation Julvez J, Gignac F, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, Sala-Vila A, Ranzani OT et al. Walnuts, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and adolescent brain development: protocol for the Walnuts Smart Snack dietary intervention trial. Front Pediatr. 2021 Jun 8;9:593847. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.593847
• dc.identifier.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.593847
• dc.identifier.issn 2296-2360
• dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10230/52546
• dc.language.iso eng
• dc.publisher Frontiers
• dc.relation.ispartof Front Pediatr. 2021 Jun 8;9:593847
• dc.rights © 2021 Julvez, Gignac, Fernández-Barrés, Romaguera, Sala-Vila, Ranzani, Persavento, Delgado, Carol, Torrent, Gonzalez, Roso, Barrera-Gómez, López-Vicente, Garcia-Esteban, Boucher, Forns, Burgaleta, Sebastián, Canals, Arija, Basagaña, Ros, Vendrell, Salas-Salvadó and Sunyer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
• dc.rights.accessRights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
• dc.rights.uri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• dc.subject.keyword ALA
• dc.subject.keyword Adolescence
• dc.subject.keyword Dietary intervention
• dc.subject.keyword Neuropsychological development
• dc.subject.keyword Omega-3 PUFA
• dc.subject.keyword Randomized controlled trial
• dc.subject.keyword Walnuts
• dc.title Walnuts, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and adolescent brain development: protocol for the Walnuts Smart Snack dietary intervention trial
• dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
• dc.type.version info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion