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Purpose

This parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week pulse-focused nutrition intervention in school-aged children (6-13 years). The study aims to assess adherence to a pulse-based diet providing 1.5 cups of pulses per week and to examine the effects of whole-cooked pulse consumption on gut health, including gut microbiome composition, metabolomic profiles, and gut barrier function. Secondary objectives include evaluating the impact of pulse consumption on markers of metabolic health and inflammation. Forty participants will be randomized to either a pulse-focused nutrition education program with weekly provision of pre-measured pulses (black beans, lentils, and chickpeas) or a pulse-focused nutrition education program in which participants independently procure their own pulses. Participants will follow the assigned intervention for 6 weeks.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 6 Years and 13 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Children aged 6-13 years old - Ability to speak English

Exclusion Criteria

  • Frequent pulse consumers (>0.5 cup/week for females and >1 cup / week for males) - Antibiotic use in the past 3 months - Diagnosed metabolic/gut diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, short bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease), neurological (multiple sclerosis, meningitis, recent stroke) or endocrine disorders (uncontrolled thyroid disorders, growth hormone disorders, adrenal gland disorders, uncontrolled diabetes - A1C > 9%). - Current use of medications or nutrition supplements - Individuals following a specific dietary patten - Individuals who gained or lost >5% body weight within the past 6 months - Those involved in another study concurrently - Any allergies to pulses - Intake of pre/pro/postbiotics in the past 3 months

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Education + Pulse Provision Condition 		Participants will a six-week pulse education program similar to the education-only group. However, this group will include individualized dietitian counseling alongside written educational materials, a common strategy in dietary education interventions. In addition to education, families will receive free weekly supply of pulses, pre-measured and packaged according to a stepwise intake plan (0.5 cups in Week 1, 1.0 cup in Week 2, and 1.5 cups from Weeks 3-6). The pulses provided will include chickpeas, lentils, and black beans, owing to their prebiotic and gut health benefits as identified in previous research. Families will be asked to prepare three pulse-based meals per week and complete adherence tracking. Pulse provisions are scaled to household size to ensure all members meet intake goals.
  • Other: Education + Pulse Provision
    Participants will receive the same six-week pulse education program as the EO group. To further improve success, EP will include individualized dietitian counseling alongside written educational materials, a common strategy in dietary education interventions. In addition to education, EP families will receive free weekly supply of pulses, pre-measured and packaged according to the same stepwise intake plan. The pulses provided will include chickpeas, lentils, and black beans, owing to their prebiotic and gut health benefits as identified in previous research. Families prepare three pulse-based meals per week and complete the same adherence tracking as the EO group. Pulse provisions are scaled to household size to ensure all members meet intake goals.
  • Other: Cooking Class
    The cooking class component will consist of a 4-week family-based cooking series involving both parent(s) and child(ren), with each week focused on a specific pulse: Week 1 (black beans), Week 2 (lentils), Week 3 (black-eyed peas), and Week 4 (chickpeas). Participants will be expected to prepare at least three meals per week using the designated pulse, for a total intake of approximately 1.5 cups per week. On days when pulses are consumed, participants will complete a Pulse Meal Record using a 24-hour dietary recall format to document intake, preparation method, and portion size. Children will also complete a Child Food Experience Survey after each pulse-containing meal; for children aged 6-8 years, parents may read the survey questions aloud as needed. Cooking classes will be administered in separate blocks to ensure that EO and EP participants attend distinct sessions. EO participants will independently review the assigned educational materials before each class. EP participants wi
Active Comparator
Education Only Condition 		Participants will receive six weekly pulse-focused nutrition sessions via printed handouts, PPTs, and recipe cards covering pulse nutrition, health benefits, and cooking methods. Families will be asked to prepare three pulse-based meals per week following a stepwise intake schedule (0.5 cups in Week 1, 1.0 cup in Week 2, and 1.5 cups from Weeks 3-6) and purchase pulses independently. Adherence is tracked through weekly food logs, checklists, and surveys on child acceptance, meal satisfaction, and preparation feasibility.
  • Other: Education Only
    Participants receive six weekly pulse-focused nutrition sessions via printed handouts, PPTs, and recipe cards covering pulse nutrition, health benefits, and cooking methods. Families prepare three pulse-based meals per week following a stepwise intake schedule (0.5 cups in Week 1, 1.0 cup in Week 2, and 1.5 cups from Weeks 3-6) and purchase pulses independently. One of four pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black eye peas, black beans) will be assigned each week.
  • Other: Cooking Class
    The cooking class component will consist of a 4-week family-based cooking series involving both parent(s) and child(ren), with each week focused on a specific pulse: Week 1 (black beans), Week 2 (lentils), Week 3 (black-eyed peas), and Week 4 (chickpeas). Participants will be expected to prepare at least three meals per week using the designated pulse, for a total intake of approximately 1.5 cups per week. On days when pulses are consumed, participants will complete a Pulse Meal Record using a 24-hour dietary recall format to document intake, preparation method, and portion size. Children will also complete a Child Food Experience Survey after each pulse-containing meal; for children aged 6-8 years, parents may read the survey questions aloud as needed. Cooking classes will be administered in separate blocks to ensure that EO and EP participants attend distinct sessions. EO participants will independently review the assigned educational materials before each class. EP participants wi

Recruiting Locations

The Gut Biome Lab
Tallahassee, Florida 32306
Contact:
Ravinder Nagpal, PhD
850-644-1829
rnagpal@fsu.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Florida State University

Study Contact

Rayven Nairn, MS, RD
850-644-1829
rsn25b@fsu.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.