Healthy AdultsNCT07227259
Health Properties of Pecan Nut Consumption
A study testing pecan nut in people with Healthy Adults, run by University of California, Davis at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The main goal of this clinical study is to see if consuming pecan nuts will result in improvements in overall body metabolism such as in blood lipids, markers of inflammation, blood pressure, cognitive performance and changes in bacteria living in the gut in adults 45 to 75 years of age. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 45 to 75 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Adults
- What is being tested?
- pecan nut
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Nov 2025to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 45 to 75 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- BMI of 20-35 kg/m2, ability to understand the intervention instructions, Willingness to follow the dietary intervention, Willingness to provide biological samples (blood and stool) -
Who cannot join
- Allergy to pecan or other nuts, Cognitive impairment due to dementia of any type and inability to understand or comply with intervention instructions, Use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy, Use of antibiotics or probiotics in the 2 months prior to enrollment, Uncontrolled diabetes with HbA1C of >9.5, Vegetarian/vegan, Any serious medical condition (such as chronic kidney disease of stage 3 or greater, heart failure, active cancer treatment, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.), Consumption of supplements that may interfere with vascular response or gut microbiome, Use of statin drugs for cholesterol lowering.
- -
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Ragle Human Nutrition Center, UC Davis campus
Davis, California, 95616
Francene Steinberg, PhD, 530-752-0160, fmsteinberg@ucdavis.edu
About this study
Official title: Assessment of Systematic Health Properties of Pecan Nut Consumption: Gut, Vascular, Metabolic and Cognitive Outcomes
The main goal of this clinical study is to see if consuming pecan nuts will result in improvements in overall body metabolism such as in blood lipids, markers of inflammation, blood pressure, cognitive performance and changes in bacteria living in the gut in adults 45 to 75 years of age.
Participants will take part in two 3-month intervention periods, separated by 4-6 weeks, in random order ( a total of approximately 7 months). During one intervention period, they will include pecan nuts in their diet each day, while during the other intervention period they will avoid pecans in their diet. There will be an initial screening visit to evaluate eligibility and four study visits to the clinic.
Participants will be asked to complete some questionnaires about their diet, physical and cognitive health, and provide blood and stool samples, and have their blood pressure measured.
- Conditions
- Healthy Adults
- Being tested
- pecan nut
- Keywords
- pecan nut, cardiovascular, gut microbiome, cognitive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
pecan nutOther
Dose - 2 ounces of pecan nuts, daily
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pecan nut then no nut | Experimental | Participant will add pecan nuts to their diet during the first intervention arm, then they will cross over to the no nut diet arm Receives: Other: pecan nut |
| No nut then pecan nut | Experimental | Participant will consume a diet without nuts during the first intervention arm, then they will cross over to the arm where they will add pecan nuts to their diet. Receives: Other: pecan nut |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in vascular response at 3 months
Vascular response as measured by Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV)
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Secondary outcomes (16)
Change in blood lipids over 3 months
Blood lipids as measured by clinical lipid panel, including total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and Tiglycerides
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in markers of inflammation at 3 months
Markers of inflammation as measured by Luminex cytokine panel IL-17
Measured: change from baseline at 3 months
Change in gut microbiome profile at 3 months
Gut microbiome profile as measured by fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in blood markers of intestinal permeability at 3 months.
Blood marker of intestinal permeability as measured by ELISA for LBP and LPS
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in blood markers of intestinal permeability at 3 months
Blood biomarker of intestinal permeability and immune activation as measured by ELISA of sCD14
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in cognitive function - reaction time at 3 months
Reaction time task as measured by CANTAB assessments
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in cognitive function - working memory at 3 months
Spatial working memory as assessed by CANTAB
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in cognitive function - episodic memory at 3 months
Paired associates learning as measured by CANTAB
Measured: Change from baseline to 3 months
Change in cognitive function - sustained attention at 3 months
Attention measured via Rapid visual information processing using CANTAB
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in quality of life at 3 months
Self-perceived quality of life questionnaire assessed using World Health Organization Qualigy of Life Instruments (WHOQOL-BREF)
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in sleep quality at 3 months
Self-rated questionnaire of sleep quality measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in mood over 3 months
Assessment of mood using the Affect Grid
Measured: Change from baseline to 3 months
Change in perceived stress over 3 months
Assessment of stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in anxiety at 3 months
Anxiety measured using the Generalized Anxiety disorder Scale (GAD-7)
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in depressive symptoms at 3 months
Assessment of depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in blood acute phase inflammatory response maker at 3 months
Acute phase inflammatory response measured by hsCRP
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Nov 2025
- Study start15 Nov 2025
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy AdultsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, DavisThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Davis
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07227259
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2340870
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 24 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of Systematic Health Properties of Pecan Nut Consumption: Gut, Vascular, Metabolic and Cognitive Outcomes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07227259
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2340870
- Conditions
- Healthy Adults
- Keywords
- pecan nut, cardiovascular, gut microbiome, cognitive
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, DavisUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The main goal of this clinical study is to see if consuming pecan nuts will result in improvements in overall body metabolism such as in blood lipids, markers of inflammation, blood pressure, cognitive performance and changes in bacteria living in the gut in adults 45 to 75 years of age.
Participants will take part in two 3-month intervention periods, separated by 4-6 weeks, in random order ( a total of approximately 7 months). During one intervention period, they will include pecan nuts in their diet each day, while during the other intervention period they will avoid pecans in their diet. There will be an initial screening visit to evaluate eligibility and four study visits to the clinic.
Participants will be asked to complete some questionnaires about their diet, physical and cognitive health, and provide blood and stool samples, and have their blood pressure measured.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pecan nut then no nut | Experimental | Other: pecan nutParticipant will add pecan nuts to their diet during the first intervention arm, then they will cross over to the no nut diet arm |
| No nut then pecan nut | Experimental | Other: pecan nutParticipant will consume a diet without nuts during the first intervention arm, then they will cross over to the arm where they will add pecan nuts to their diet. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 45 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- BMI of 20-35 kg/m2, ability to understand the intervention instructions, Willingness to follow the dietary intervention, Willingness to provide biological samples (blood and stool) -
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Allergy to pecan or other nuts, Cognitive impairment due to dementia of any type and inability to understand or comply with intervention instructions, Use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy, Use of antibiotics or probiotics in the 2 months prior to enrollment, Uncontrolled diabetes with HbA1C of >9.5, Vegetarian/vegan, Any serious medical condition (such as chronic kidney disease of stage 3 or greater, heart failure, active cancer treatment, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.), Consumption of supplements that may interfere with vascular response or gut microbiome, Use of statin drugs for cholesterol lowering.
- -
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| pecan nutDose - 2 ounces of pecan nuts, daily | Other | No nut then pecan nut, Pecan nut then no nut |
Primary outcome
Change in vascular response at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Vascular response as measured by Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV)
16 secondary outcomes
Change in blood lipids over 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in markers of inflammation at 3 months
Time frame: change from baseline at 3 months
Change in gut microbiome profile at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in blood markers of intestinal permeability at 3 months.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in blood markers of intestinal permeability at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in cognitive function - reaction time at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in cognitive function - working memory at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in cognitive function - episodic memory at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months
Change in cognitive function - sustained attention at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in quality of life at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in sleep quality at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in mood over 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months
Change in perceived stress over 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in anxiety at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in depressive symptoms at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Change in blood acute phase inflammatory response maker at 3 months
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing pecan nut in people with Healthy Adults, run by University of California, Davis at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Francene Steinberg, PhD (530-752-0160, fmsteinberg@ucdavis.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in vascular response at 3 months (time frame: Change from baseline at 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Feb 2026.