NCT07292610

Impact of Nut Consumption on Mental Health in Young Adults

Impact of Nut Consumption on Mental Health in Young Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 135 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Castilla-La Mancha · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 24 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Nuts have a high nutrient density, and numerous studies have reported their cardiometabolic benefits. Although observational studies in adults have indicated a potential link between nut consumption and improved mental health, there is still insufficient evidence from experimental studies to draw firm conclusions about this association.

Detailed description

Nuts are widely recognized for their high nutrient density and their multiple reported cardiometabolic benefits. They are rich in monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids (including omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid) as well as antioxidants and compounds with anti inflammatory properties. Observational studies in adults have suggested a potential association between nut consumption and improved mental health, including a reduced risk of depression and enhanced mood. However, evidence from experimental studies remains limited and often inconclusive. Early adulthood (ages 18-24) represents a critical developmental period marked by substantial physical, psychological, and social changes, and it is also a stage during which mental health problems commonly emerge. The Nuts4Brain-RCT will investigate the impact of a 6-month mixed-nut intervention on mental health symptoms, cognitive functioning, sleep quality, overall well-being, health-related quality of life, and biochemical mediators of brain function and mental health in young adults.

Conditions

• Depression Disorder
• Anxiety
• Mental Health
• Stress
• Cognition
• BDNF
• General Wellbeing

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	mixed nuts. Group A	Participants will be instructed to consume a single daily dose of nuts (30 g/day of mixed nuts). Nuts will be provided free of charge for the entire study period (6 moths). The participants will be instructed to incorporate nuts into their regular diet and consume them in any way they prefer. Upon completion of the intervention, participants will be instructed to continue their usual dietary and lifestyle habits, without any specific restrictions or incentives directed toward nut consumption. After 6 months have passed since the end of the intervention, all participants will be called for a final session (12 months) in which all data evaluated throughout the study will be collected
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	mixed nuts. Group B	Participants will be instructed to consume two daily doses of nuts (60 g/day of mixed nuts). Nuts will be provided free of charge for the entire study period (6 months). The participants will be instructed to incorporate nuts into their regular diet and consume them in any way they prefer.Upon completion of the intervention, participants will be instructed to continue their usual dietary and lifestyle habits, without any specific restrictions or incentives directed toward nut consumption. After 6 months have passed since the end of the intervention, all participants will be called for a final session (12 months) in which all data evaluated throughout the study will be collected
OTHER	control group	Participants will be instructed to maintain their regular diet without any specific dietary instructions or intervention.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-24
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2027-04-01
• First posted: 2025-12-18
• Last updated: 2025-12-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain