NCT02501889

Brief Summary

This study investigates whether walnuts help to promote weight loss, associated with increased meal satiety and satisfaction, in 100 overweight and obese men and women who are participating in a 6-month behavioral weight loss intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to a walnut-enriched reduced-calorie diet or a standard reduced-calorie diet. Body weight, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and self-reported feelings relevant to satiety and appetite will be measured at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Also, the response of gastrointestinal tract hormones following meals with or without walnuts will be measured in a subset of study participants (n=20). Results from this study will contribute to understanding the role of nuts in weight control, including further knowledge of the mechanisms, and will expand knowledge of how nuts in the diet may contribute to the prevention and management of obesity.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
100

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2015

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 9, 2015

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 17, 2015

Completed
15 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2015

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2017

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2017

Completed
Last Updated

October 26, 2017

Status Verified

September 1, 2016

Enrollment Period

1.8 years

First QC Date

July 9, 2015

Last Update Submit

October 24, 2017

Conditions

Keywords

obesityoverweightweight losssatietywalnutsgastrointestinal peptides

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in body weight in response to being assigned a walnut-enriched reduced-energy diet or a standard reduced-energy diet in an intensive 6-month weight loss intervention.

    2 years

  • Change in cardiovascular disease risk factors in response to being assigned a walnut-enriched reduced-energy diet or a standard reduced-energy diet in an intensive 6-month weight loss intervention.

    2 years

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Satiety- and appetite-related visual analogue scales in response to being prescribed a walnut- enriched reduced-energy diet or a standard reduced-energy diet among the participants in the weight-loss intervention.

    2 years

Other Outcomes (2)

  • Postprandial blood levels of satiety- and appetite-related gastrointestinal peptides (ghrelin, cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide, and peptide YY) following meals with or without walnuts in a sample subset, as an exploratory aim.

    2 years

  • Satiety- and appetite-related visual analogue scales following meals with or without walnuts in a sample subset, as an exploratory aim.

    2 years

Study Arms (2)

Walnut-rich weight loss diet arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will have an individualized reduced-calorie diet prescription and weight loss counseling session with the project coordinator, who is a registered dietitian. Composition of prescribed diets will be based on individual preferences. During the 6-month intervention, study subjects will participate in individualized counseling and group sessions, with in-person, telephone, email and text message contacts to provide support and behavioral guidance and strategies. All participants will have contact with the project coordinator a minimum of every 1-2 weeks. Walnuts will be provided to participants in the walnut-rich study arm.

Behavioral: Walnut-rich weight loss diet

Standard weight loss diet arm

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will have an individualized reduced-calorie diet prescription and weight loss counseling session with the project coordinator, who is a registered dietitian. Composition of prescribed diets will be based on individual preferences. During the 6-month intervention, study subjects will participate in individualized counseling and group sessions, with in-person, telephone, email and text message contacts to provide support and behavioral guidance and strategies. Participants assigned to this arm will be instructed to abstain from the consumption of nuts during the study. All participants will have contact with the project coordinator a minimum of every 1-2 weeks.

Behavioral: Standard weight loss diet

Interventions

Composition of prescribed diets will be based on individual preferences, with the goal of reduced energy intake and increased energy expenditure. During the 6-month intervention, study subjects will participate in individualized counseling and group sessions, with in-person, telephone, email and text message contacts to provide support and behavioral guidance and strategies. Walnuts will be provided to participants. The overall content of the intervention consists of key elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy for obesity. The physical activity component emphasizes planned aerobic exercise, increased physical activity in the lifestyle, and strength training.

Walnut-rich weight loss diet arm

Composition of prescribed diets will be based on individual preferences, with the goal of reduced energy intake and increased energy expenditure. During the 6-month intervention, study subjects will participate in individualized counseling and group sessions, with in-person, telephone, email and text message contacts to provide support and behavioral guidance and strategies. The overall content of the intervention consists of key elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy for obesity. The physical activity component emphasizes planned aerobic exercise, increased physical activity in the lifestyle, and strength training.

Standard weight loss diet arm

Eligibility Criteria

Age21 Years - 75 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • aged 21 years and older
  • BMI \>27.0 kg/m2 and \<40 kg/m2
  • non-smoker
  • willing and able to participate in clinic visits, group sessions, telephone, and internet communications at specified intervals
  • able to provide data through questionnaires and by telephone
  • willing to maintain contact with the investigators for 6 months
  • willing to allow blood collections
  • no known allergy to tree nuts
  • capable of performing a simple test for assessing cardiopulmonary fitness

You may not qualify if:

  • inability to participate in physical activity because of severe disability
  • a history or presence of a comorbid diseases for which diet modification and increased physical activity may be contraindicated
  • smoker
  • self-reported pregnancy or breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy within the next year
  • currently actively involved in another diet intervention study or organized weight loss program
  • a history or presence of a significant psychiatric disorder or any other condition that, in the investigator's judgement, would interfere with participation in the trial

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

UC San Diego

La Jolla, California, 92093-0901, United States

Location

Related Publications (28)

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    PMID: 18345020BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 22743313BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 23509106BACKGROUND
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  • Karhunen LJ, Juvonen KR, Flander SM, Liukkonen KH, Lahteenmaki L, Siloaho M, Laaksonen DE, Herzig KH, Uusitupa MI, Poutanen KS. A psyllium fiber-enriched meal strongly attenuates postprandial gastrointestinal peptide release in healthy young adults. J Nutr. 2010 Apr;140(4):737-44. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.115436. Epub 2010 Feb 10.

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  • Sabate J, Cordero-Macintyre Z, Siapco G, Torabian S, Haddad E. Does regular walnut consumption lead to weight gain? Br J Nutr. 2005 Nov;94(5):859-64. doi: 10.1079/bjn20051567.

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  • Rock CL, Flatt SW, Barkai HS, Pakiz B, Heath DD. Walnut consumption in a weight reduction intervention: effects on body weight, biological measures, blood pressure and satiety. Nutr J. 2017 Dec 4;16(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12937-017-0304-z.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

OverweightObesityWeight Loss

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBody Weight Changes

Study Officials

  • Cheryl L. Rock, PhD, RD

    University of California, San Diego

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 9, 2015

First Posted

July 17, 2015

Study Start

August 1, 2015

Primary Completion

June 1, 2017

Study Completion

June 1, 2017

Last Updated

October 26, 2017

Record last verified: 2016-09

Locations