Asset Publisher

SMART-SNACK

Seasonal Fruits, Nuts and Teenage Mental Development: A Dietary Intervention

Duration
2015-2017
Coordinator
Jordi Júlvez (ISGlobal)
Funded by
Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Adolescence is a critical period of brain maturation and mental development, which is affected by many factors. Several studies have generated the hypothesis that diet can interfere with the development. The investigation of which food in the diet can better benefit us and understand its role in adolescent health is one of the challenges of our time. This knowledge will create healthier dietary recommendations and improve health in the adolescence, a period in which certain changes can mark the future for the rest of life period.

Study Goals
  • To discover the effects on mental development of two dietary interventions very easy to follow, for six months, aimed at teenagers. And in particular:
    • Intervention 1: Eat seasonal fruit
    • Intervention 2: Eat seasonal fruits + nuts.
  • To evaluate the mental capacities of adolescents before and after dietary intervention through computerized tests that are intuitive and easy to apply.
  • To assess whether there are changes in certain biological markers (omega-3 fatty acids) once the dietary intervention is finished.
Study characteristics

The study will be conducted during the 2015-2016 course in 30 schools of Barcelona that are representative of the city. The participants will be 800 adolescents who will be divided into two groups randomly according to the type of dietary intervention.

PDF about the study (Catalan version) 

PDF about the study (English version)

Our Team

Principal Investigator (PI)

Our Team

  • Raquel Garcia Esteban
    Raquel Garcia Esteban
  • Mònica Lopez Vicente
    Mònica Lopez Vicente
  • Maria Cecilia Persavento
    Maria Cecilia Persavento
  • Xavier Basagaña
    Xavier Basagaña Research Professor