Pecan nut consumption and health in adults 45–75
Official title: Assessment of Systematic Health Properties of Pecan Nut Consumption: Gut, Vascular, Metabolic and Cognitive Outcomes
Run by University of California, Davis · NCT07227259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will see if eating pecan nuts daily improves metabolism, cholesterol, inflammation, blood pressure, thinking, and gut bacteria in adults aged 45 to 75.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 45 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, Davis Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Davis, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07227259 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 45–75 with BMI 20–35 kg/m2 who can follow dietary instructions, provide blood and stool samples, and are not taking statins, recent antibiotics/probiotics, menopausal hormone therapy, or supplements that affect vascular response or the microbiome.
✕Probably not a fit
People with pecan or other nut allergies, vegetarian/vegan diets, uncontrolled serious medical conditions, recent antibiotic or probiotic use, current statin use, or uncontrolled diabetes are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized crossover dietary intervention in which participants complete two 3-month periods in random order: one period with daily pecan nut intake and one period avoiding pecans, separated by a 4–6 week washout. Adults 45–75 who meet BMI and health criteria will attend an initial screening and four clinic visits over roughly seven months. At visits participants provide blood and stool samples, complete diet and health questionnaires, and have blood pressure and cognitive tests recorded. The design compares within-person changes in blood lipids, inflammatory markers, vascular measures, cognitive performance, and gut microbiome composition between the pecan and no-pecan periods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding pecan nuts to the daily diet could lead to modest improvements in cholesterol, inflammation, blood pressure, gut bacterial balance, and possibly cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research on other tree nuts has shown improvements in lipids and inflammation, but pecan-specific evidence is limited so this approach builds on promising but not definitive nutrition findings.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: BMI of 20-35 kg/m2, ability to understand the intervention instructions, Willingness to follow the dietary intervention, Willingness to provide biological samples (blood and stool) - Exclusion Criteria: Allergy to pecan or other nuts, Cognitive impairment due to dementia of any type and inability to understand or comply with intervention instructions, Use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy, Use of antibiotics or probiotics in the 2 months prior to enrollment, Uncontrolled diabetes with HbA1C of \>9.5, Vegetarian/vegan, Any serious medical condition (such as chronic kidney disease of stage 3 or greater, heart failure, active cancer treatment, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.), Consumption of supplements that may interfere with vascular response or gut microbiome, Use of statin drugs for cholesterol lowering. \-
Where it's running
-
Ragle Human Nutrition Center, UC Davis campus
Davis, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Francene Steinberg, PhD
- Email: fmsteinberg@ucdavis.edu
- Phone: 530-752-0160
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Optimizing Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease
This study tests whether using ongoing brain signals gathered during daily life can improve adaptive deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinson's who have motor fluctuations.
-
How movement and nervous system function relate after stroke
This study tests whether measures of movement efficiency and nerve function relate to outcomes in adults who had a stroke.
-
Support for caregivers of people with heart disease to reduce stress
This study tests whether the Confident Caregiver program can help family caregivers of people with cardiovascular disease feel less burdened and stressed, with sessions delivered virtually.
-
Normal lymphatic anatomy in breast cancer patients using ultra-high frequency ultrasound and ICG
This study tests whether ultra-high frequency ultrasound plus indocyanine green dye can map normal lymphatic channels in breast cancer patients undergoing axillary procedures.
-
Rhythmic cues to help walking after spinal cord injury
This pilot test will see if a wearable rhythm device (MedRhythms) can help adults with motor incomplete spinal cord injury walk more steadily and comfortably.
-
Non-Invasive Temporally Interfering Electric Fields Stimulation for Epilepsy and Healthy Adults
This test will see if a non-surgical brain stimulation method called TIEFS can change brain activity and thinking skills in adults with epilepsy and in healthy adults.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.