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Pecan Snacks and Aging Study

This study is looking at how eating certain snacks might affect aging, specifically in women aged 55-75. Researchers want to see if eating 2 ounces of whole raw pecans daily, compared to 3.5 ounces of pretzel snacks, for 12 weeks can help protect your body from damage caused by sunlight. They will measure how your skin reacts to UV light and look at markers in your blood and gut to understand how these snacks might influence aging. You might be able to join if you are a generally healthy woman between 55 and 75 years old, have a BMI between 18.5 and 34.9, and have Fitzpatrick Skin type II-IV. The main goal is to see changes in your skin's resistance to UV light irritation after 12 weeks.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 60 female participants. It compares the effects of daily pecan consumption to daily pretzel consumption.
What's involved
You would eat either pecans or pretzels daily for 12 weeks. You would also need to maintain your usual diet, exercise, and skincare routines, and be willing to come to study visits.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your skin's resistance to UV light will be measured at the beginning of the study and again after 12 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06879626

Effect of Snacks on Aging

Active, Not Recruiting
NAAges 55–75InterventionalPrevention
University of California, Los Angeles
~60 participants
Updated 2026-07-31 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:PecanPretzel

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Minimal Erythema Dose (MED)
Measured over At baseline and 12 weeks

Conditions

Aging

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Aging

NCT06879626

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • UCLA Center for Human Nutrition

    Los Angeles, Californiano site contact published

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, Los Angeles

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Female
Generally healthy
Aged 55-75 years
BMI 18.5-34.9 kg/m2
Fitzpatrick Skin type II-IV
Consume a typical Western diet (low in polyphenols-rich foods and fiber)
Willing to maintain habitual dietary and exercise patterns for the study duration
Willing to maintain normal skin care products and pattern for the duration of the study
Willing to come to study visits without any makeup and skin products on
Subjects must read and sign the Institutional Review Board-approved written informed consent prior to the initiation of any study specific procedures or enrollment. A subject will be excluded for any condition that might compromise the ability to give truly informed consent.

Exclusion

Vegetarian/vegan
Known nut allergy
Skin-related prescription medication, supplements or non-prescription cosmeceutical agents
Initiation of topical or oral prescription steroids and/or anti-inflammatory medications within 30 days prior to study enrollment
Excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight
Screening laboratory values outside of the normal range that is considered clinically significant for study participation by the investigator
Documented chronic disease
Taking medications or supplements known to affect gut microbiota composition (antibiotics within the past 3 months, probiotics, fiber, etc.)
Taking exogenous hormones (e.g. hormone replacement therapy)
Recent weight fluctuations (\>10% in the last 6 months)
Smoker or living with a smoker
Use of \>20 g of alcohol per day
Unable or unwilling to comply with the study protocol (including unwillingness to avoid nuts for the whole duration of the study)
Unable to provide consent
Pregnancy and/or lactation

What this trial measures

  • Minimal Erythema Dose (MED)At baseline and 12 weeks

    To determine the minimal erythema dose (MED) at the inner arm, skin UVB dose and treatment time will be determined based on overall skin type classification. Based on overall skin type classification we will use the National Biological UVB mJ chart to determine the dose and sequential exposure times for each skin patch. A sleeve with 6 cutout patches will be placed on participant's arm. Using the Dermalight 90 handheld device (National Biological, Beachwood, OH) each cutout test area on the inner arm of subjects will be exposed to a defined dose of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) light delivered by the UV exposure between 270 and 400 nm. Each cutout window will be exposed to an increasing dose. To evaluate the minimal erythema dose (MED) participants will need to return 24 hours later to determine which skin patch showed minimal erythema (pink color). Although 6 cutouts will be made, this is a single outcome measure as the all 6 cutouts will all be measuring MED in mJ/cm\^2.