Actively Recruiting
Assessing the Feasibility and Potential Efficacy of Herbs and Spices for Improving Dietary Quality and Adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in College Students With Poor Dietary Quality: A Pilot Study
Led by University of Nevada, Las Vegas · Updated on 2025-11-24
30
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Lead Sponsor
M
McCormick Science Institute
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of the Herbs and Spices Nutrition Education Program (HSNP) in college students who have poor dietary quality. This pilot study aims to see if adding herbs and spices to the diet along with education based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) can improve diet quality, cardiometabolic health, and gut health. The study also explores barriers to implementing the HSNP and plans to determine if this program can be scaled up for larger studies. Participants will take part in a 6-week single-arm study where all receive the HSNP. They will attend two group education sessions at the UNLV Nutrition Center at weeks 0 and 3. During these sessions, registered dietitians will teach about the DGA, benefits of herbs and spices, food group recommendations, and provide budget-friendly recipes. Participants will also complete sensory evaluations of foods prepared with herbs and spices. Throughout the study, participants will complete four 3-day food records at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6 to assess dietary intake and quality. Participants will first attend a screening visit to confirm eligibility, including dietary quality and health assessments. Before and after the HSNP, they will have study visits with fasting vascular assessments, body composition measurements, blood draws for glucose, lipid, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress, plus questionnaires on nutrition knowledge, mood, gastrointestinal and sleep health. Participants will collect fecal samples at home before the pre- and post-HSNP visits to analyze gut microbiome changes. The total study involvement lasts about 6 weeks with detailed monitoring of diet, health markers, and program adherence.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Feasibility and Potential Efficacy of Herbs and Spices for Improving Dietary Quality in College Students: A Pilot Study
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- College students (undergraduate and graduate)
- Ages 18 to 39 years
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 40 kg/m2
- Poor dietary quality defined by a Rapid Prime Diet Quality Score of 12 or below
- Maintain current lifestyle habits, including medications, supplements, exercise, and sleep, without starting new ones during the study
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosed with myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- BMI less than 18.5 or greater than 40 kg/m2
- Autoimmune disease or immune compromised
- Recent cancer diagnosis or currently under cancer treatment
- History of kidney stones
- Having a pacemaker
- Participating in a weight loss program
- History of significant gastrointestinal disease
- Using insulin
- Currently on dialysis
- Consuming probiotics, prebiotics, or antibiotics currently
- Diagnosed with unstable chronic metabolic disease
- Allergies to any herbs and spices
- Pregnant or nursing
- Participating in another investigational study
- Unable or unwilling to give consent
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person) for screening and enrollment
Duration - Within 1 week before starting intervention
Participants complete baseline assessments including dietary quality, vascular health, body composition, blood draws, anthropometrics, physical activity, nutrition knowledge, mood, gastrointestinal health, and sleep quality. Participants also collect a fecal sample at home prior to this visit.
1 visit (in-person, fasting)
Duration - 6 weeks
Participants attend two group visits at the UNLV Nutrition Center at weeks 0 and 3 to receive nutrition education on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and herbs and spices incorporation, including sensory evaluations.
2 group visits (in-person) at weeks 0 and 3
Duration - 6 weeks
Participants complete self-administered three-day food records remotely during weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6 to assess dietary intake and quality.
4 remote assessments at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6
Duration - Within 1 week after completing intervention
Participants complete follow-up assessments similar to baseline including vascular health, body composition, blood draws, anthropometrics, diet, physical activity, nutrition knowledge, mood, gastrointestinal health, and sleep quality. A second fecal sample is collected at home prior to this visit.
1 visit (in-person, fasting)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89154
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
N
Neda S Akhavan, PhD, RD
S
Sara K Rosenkranz, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
1
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