Actively Recruiting
Investigating the Effects of Beef Consumption on Cognitive and Brain Health
Led by University of Nebraska Lincoln · Updated on 2026-02-10
240
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
49 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lead Sponsor
N
National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if eating more beef will lead to better cognition and a healthier brain in younger adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does eating more beef lead to higher scores on cognitive tests and better quality of life? * Does eating more beef lead to better brain function? Researchers will compare participants in the experimental group (participants who will eat 25 ounces of beef every week during the dietary intervention) to control participants (participants who will eat 5 ounces of beef every week during the dietary intervention). Participants will: * Be instructed to prepare and consume ready-to-eat beef meals along with their regular diet and not eat any more beef other than what they are given * Visit the study facilities once every week to pick up ready-to-eat beef meals; and complete a brief survey every week to track their consumption of the provided beef meals, and a dietary survey every 4 weeks * Visit the study facilities before and after the 12-week of intervention period for researchers to study them
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Investigating the Effects of Beef Consumption on Cognitive and Brain Health
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Signed and dated informed consent form provided
- Willingness to follow all study procedures and be available for the study duration
- Male or female aged 19 to 24 years
- Willing to adhere to the ready-to-eat beef intervention
- Enrolled student at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 39.9
- Not pregnant or nursing
- No history of cognitive or metabolic diseases such as neurodegenerative disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, or cancer
- No history of eating or anxiety disorders
- Willing to stop dietary supplements during the study if currently using them
- No known contraindications to MRI scans as per MRI screening questionnaire
You will not qualify if you...
- Currently taking medications that may affect diet response, including amphetamines, antidepressants, anti-diabetic drugs, laxatives, antibiotics, statins, or diuretics
- Known allergy or intolerance to beef
- Current use of nicotine products, including vaping
- Use of nicotine products within the past 6 months
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68588
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
D
Douglas Schultz, PhD
CONTACT
A
Aron Barbey, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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