Nutritional StatusAQUAFOODNCT07555197
Association of Seafood Consumption and Nutritional Status Among Adolescent Girls
An observational study of Nutritional Status and Omega 3 Fat Status, run by University of Copenhagen at 1 site in Bangladesh.
Trial summary
This study examines how seafood consumption, social changes, and climate change affect the nutrition and well-being of adolescent girls in south-western Bangladesh. Many adolescent girls face poor nutrition, early marriage, and limited access to adequate diets. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 17 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Nutritional Status, Omega 3 Fat Status, Micronutrient Status
- What is being tested?
- Assess natural behavior
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBangladesh
- Study dates
- 25 Apr 2026to 15 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 12 to 17 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Study population: The study will recruit 300 adolescent girls aged 12-16 years from the same study area as the 2017 IMMANA study. This will allow comparison of changes over the past 10 years in dietary patterns, nutritional status, fish consumption, and micronutrient status including blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Who may be able to join
- Adolescent girls aged between 12-16 years
- Residing in the same study area as the 2017 IMMANA study
- Willing to participate and provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Any health condition that may affect anthropometric measurements
- Severe illness that may interfere with physical or biochemical assessments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Bangladesh1 site
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr, b)
Dhaka, Capital Region, 1000
Gulshan Ara, PhD, 88 02 2222 77 001-10, gulshan.ara@icddrb.org
About this study
Official title: Association of Seafood Consumption and Nutritional Status Among Adolescent Girls Living in Different Aquatic Ecological Zones in Southwestern Bangladesh
This study examines how seafood consumption, social changes, and climate change affect the nutrition and well-being of adolescent girls in south-western Bangladesh. Many adolescent girls face poor nutrition, early marriage, and limited access to adequate diets. Adolescent girls have high nutritional needs due to growth and potential early motherhood. Seafood, including fish, shrimp, and prawns, provides important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, but little is known about how its consumption relates to nutritional status in this population.
The study will collect new data from adolescent girls in the same area as a 2017 study (IMMANA study), assessing dietary pattern, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and female autonomy. It will also explore how climate change affects household food access and nutrition to provide policies linking food systems and public health.
Read the detailed description
Adolescents make up a large share of Bangladesh's population, with 27.7 million aged 10-19 years. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable due to high nutritional needs for growth and the risk of early marriage and motherhood. National data show widespread undernutrition: about one-third of girls aged 15-19 are chronically energy deficient, with many experiencing thinness or stunting. Smaller studies suggest similar concerns among younger adolescents, including inadequate intake of both macro- and micronutrients and limited dietary knowledge.
Fish is a key source of essential nutrients in Bangladesh, providing high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), and bioavailable micronutrients such as vitamin A, iodine, iron, and zinc. Evidence shows that fish consumption supports cardiovascular health and child development and is associated with improved birth outcomes. Small indigenous fish species are particularly nutrient-dense, and integrated aquaculture systems can further improve dietary diversity. Despite this, the relationship between seafood intake and nutritional status among adolescent girls remains underexplored.
Aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector in Bangladesh, contributing significantly to food systems, livelihoods, and the economy. However, coastal and estuarine regions face environmental challenges such as salinity changes and climate variability, affecting food production and access. Communities in these areas remain vulnerable to poor nutrition despite living in resource-rich environments, and there is limited integration between fisheries and public health policies.
This study will collect new data from adolescent girls in the same area as a 2017 study in two seasons. It will assess dietary intake, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and female autonomy, and explore how climate change influences household food access and nutrition.
Objectives:
- To assess seafood consumption patterns among adolescent girls.
- To examine the association between seafood consumption and anthropometric measurements in adolescent girls.
- To evaluate the relationship between seafood consumption and blood levels of omega 3, vitamin D, ferritin, retinol, vitamin B12, as well as urinary iodine concentration.
- To assess the quality of life of adolescent girls by measuring selected relevant capabilities.
- To develop an integrated metric of nutritional well being by linking seafood consumption, nutritional outcomes, quality of life, and farming systems.
- Conditions
- Nutritional Status, Omega 3 Fat Status, Micronutrient Status, Fish Consumption, Dietary Pattern, Female Autonomy
- Being tested
- Assess natural behavior
- Keywords
- Adolescent nutrition, Aquaculture, Climate change, Fish consumption, Female autonomy, Nutritional status
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Assess natural behaviorOther
Also called No intervention
No intervention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-sectional assessment of adolescent girls | Adolescent girls' diet, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and female autonomy, and climate change impacts on food access and nutrition will be assessed in two seasons. Receives: Other: Assess natural behavior |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Omega-3 status
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in whole blood (% of total fatty acid)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Omega-3 status
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in whole blood (% of total fatty acid)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Serum levels of vitamin D (total 25-hydroxyvitamin D), nmol/L
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Serum levels of Ferritin (µg/L)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
serum levels of retinol (μmol/L)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Serum levels of vitamin B12 (ng/L)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Secondary outcomes (5)
Inflammation status
serum levels of C-reactive protein concentration (mg/L)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Inflammation status
Serum levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (g/L)
Measured: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Height (cm)
Measured: One measurement between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Weight (kg)
Measured: One measurement between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Iodine levels in urine will be measured (UNIT)
Measured: Between April and August
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Apr 2026
- Study start25 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion10 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Nutritional StatusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of CopenhagenThe 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Copenhagen
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Noakhali Science and Technology University, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, University of Stirling, University of Aberdeen
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Gulshan Ara, PhD, Principal investigator, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07555197
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PR-25055-AQUAFOOD
- Acronym
- AQUAFOOD
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 16 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 6 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: As per the ethical approval, participant data will not be shared publicly. Anonymised data can be shared by study coordinator upon reasonable request.
Publications
Grieve E, Mamun AA, de Roos B, Barman BK, Ara G, Roos N, Pounds A, Sneddon AA, Murray F, Ahmed T, Little DC. Adolescent girls in aquaculture ecozones at risk of nutrient deficiency in Bangladesh development and validation of an integrated metric. BMC Public Health. 2023 Feb 28;23(1):405. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15175-z.
PubMed 36855076Ara G, Little DC, Mamun AA, de Roos B, Grieve E, Khanam M, Hasan SMT, Ireen S, Ali SD, Boitchi AB, Dijkhuizen MA, Ahmed T, Roos N. Factors affecting the micronutrient status of adolescent girls living in complex agro-aquatic ecological zones of Bangladesh. Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 24;13(1):6631. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33636-8.
PubMed 37095307
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Association of Seafood Consumption and Nutritional Status Among Adolescent Girls Living in Different Aquatic Ecological Zones in Southwestern Bangladesh
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07555197
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AQUAFOOD / PR-25055-AQUAFOOD
- Conditions
- Nutritional Status, Omega 3 Fat Status, Micronutrient Status, Fish Consumption, Dietary Pattern, Female Autonomy
- Keywords
- Adolescent nutrition, Aquaculture, Climate change, Fish consumption, Female autonomy, Nutritional status
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of CopenhagenUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Noakhali Science and Technology University, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, University of Stirling, University of Aberdeen
- Study start
- 25 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 10 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Apr 2026 (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.
This study examines how seafood consumption, social changes, and climate change affect the nutrition and well-being of adolescent girls in south-western Bangladesh. Many adolescent girls face poor nutrition, early marriage, and limited access to adequate diets. Adolescent girls have high nutritional needs due to growth and potential early motherhood. Seafood, including fish, shrimp, and prawns, provides important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, but little is known about how its consumption relates to nutritional status in this population.
The study will collect new data from adolescent girls in the same area as a 2017 study (IMMANA study), assessing dietary pattern, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and female autonomy. It will also explore how climate change affects household food access and nutrition to provide policies linking food systems and public health.
Detailed description
Adolescents make up a large share of Bangladesh's population, with 27.7 million aged 10-19 years. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable due to high nutritional needs for growth and the risk of early marriage and motherhood. National data show widespread undernutrition: about one-third of girls aged 15-19 are chronically energy deficient, with many experiencing thinness or stunting. Smaller studies suggest similar concerns among younger adolescents, including inadequate intake of both macro- and micronutrients and limited dietary knowledge.
Fish is a key source of essential nutrients in Bangladesh, providing high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), and bioavailable micronutrients such as vitamin A, iodine, iron, and zinc. Evidence shows that fish consumption supports cardiovascular health and child development and is associated with improved birth outcomes. Small indigenous fish species are particularly nutrient-dense, and integrated aquaculture systems can further improve dietary diversity. Despite this, the relationship between seafood intake and nutritional status among adolescent girls remains underexplored.
Aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector in Bangladesh, contributing significantly to food systems, livelihoods, and the economy. However, coastal and estuarine regions face environmental challenges such as salinity changes and climate variability, affecting food production and access. Communities in these areas remain vulnerable to poor nutrition despite living in resource-rich environments, and there is limited integration between fisheries and public health policies.
This study will collect new data from adolescent girls in the same area as a 2017 study in two seasons. It will assess dietary intake, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and female autonomy, and explore how climate change influences household food access and nutrition.
Objectives:
- To assess seafood consumption patterns among adolescent girls.
- To examine the association between seafood consumption and anthropometric measurements in adolescent girls.
- To evaluate the relationship between seafood consumption and blood levels of omega 3, vitamin D, ferritin, retinol, vitamin B12, as well as urinary iodine concentration.
- To assess the quality of life of adolescent girls by measuring selected relevant capabilities.
- To develop an integrated metric of nutritional well being by linking seafood consumption, nutritional outcomes, quality of life, and farming systems.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-sectional assessment of adolescent girls | – | Other: Assess natural behaviorAdolescent girls' diet, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and female autonomy, and climate change impacts on food access and nutrition will be assessed in two seasons. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 17 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- The study will recruit 300 adolescent girls aged 12-16 years from the same study area as the 2017 IMMANA study. This will allow comparison of changes over the past 10 years in dietary patterns, nutritional status, fish consumption, and micronutrient status including blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adolescent girls aged between 12-16 years
- Residing in the same study area as the 2017 IMMANA study
- Willing to participate and provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Any health condition that may affect anthropometric measurements
- Severe illness that may interfere with physical or biochemical assessments
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assess natural behaviorAlso: No interventionNo intervention | Other | Cross-sectional assessment of adolescent girls |
Primary outcome
Omega-3 status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in whole blood (% of total fatty acid)
Omega-3 status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in whole blood (% of total fatty acid)
Micronutrient status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Serum levels of vitamin D (total 25-hydroxyvitamin D), nmol/L
Micronutrient status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Serum levels of Ferritin (µg/L)
Micronutrient status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
serum levels of retinol (μmol/L)
Micronutrient status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Serum levels of vitamin B12 (ng/L)
5 secondary outcomes
Inflammation status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Inflammation status
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Time frame: One measurement between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Time frame: One measurement between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Time frame: Between April and August
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 6 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 36855076Grieve E, Mamun AA, de Roos B, Barman BK, Ara G, Roos N, Pounds A, Sneddon AA, Murray F, Ahmed T, Little DC. Adolescent girls in aquaculture ecozones at risk of nutrient deficiency in Bangladesh development and validation of an integrated metric. BMC Public Health. 2023 Feb 28;23(1):405. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15175-z.
- Background: PubMed 37095307Ara G, Little DC, Mamun AA, de Roos B, Grieve E, Khanam M, Hasan SMT, Ireen S, Ali SD, Boitchi AB, Dijkhuizen MA, Ahmed T, Roos N. Factors affecting the micronutrient status of adolescent girls living in complex agro-aquatic ecological zones of Bangladesh. Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 24;13(1):6631. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33636-8.
- Description of the AQUAFOOD project, available on the University of Copenhagen, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports website.Link provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. As per the ethical approval, participant data will not be shared publicly. Anonymised data can be shared by study coordinator upon reasonable request.
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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.
Gulshan Ara, PhD principal investigator
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Nutritional Status and Omega 3 Fat Status, run by University of Copenhagen at 1 site in Bangladesh.
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 3 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 May 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 Bangladesh. 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 Nanna Roos, PhD (+45 3532 0829, nexs@nexs.ku.dk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Omega-3 status (time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07555197, which also lists 2 linked publications.
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 6 May 2026.