This study aims to find a new marker for the consumptions of pecans, and any other food containing ellagitannins. Our goal is to find out the patterns of Urolithins (Uros), a metabolite originated from ellagic acid by the gut microbiota. Previous study supports that Urolithins and it's glucuronides conjugates, especially Uro A glucuronide, increase in blood plasma after 4-week intervention of chronic consumption of pecans. However, little is known about Uros in plasma after an acute meal containing ellagitannins. For this reason, this project's goal is to be able to hourly track Uros after a pecan enriched meal.This trial will be a double-blinded, randomized, cross-over design in humans. There will be three study visits. The screening visit (v1) will entail signing informed consent documents, anthropometric measurements, and receiving their dinner entrée for the night before v2. The two testing visits (v2 and v3) include blood draws after consuming one of the two different test meals: 1) a breakfast shake consisting primarily of pecans, Nesquik and 1% milk, or 2) a breakfast shake consisting primarily of heavy whipping cream, Nesquik and 1% milk. There will be a 6-14 day washout period between each study visit. There will be a total of thirty participants in this study (n=30). All visits will take place in the Human Nutrition Lab (HNL) at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Only Dr. Chad Paton and/or members of his research team will screen potential participants interested in the study. The screening process will be done over the phone, or in person. In contrast, the consent process will be done in person only. If potential participants complete an online interest screening form they will be contacted by the researchers listed above. These researchers will conduct the full telephone screening and inform the potential participant whether or not they qualify for the study. For participants that have completed the online interest form, researchers will clarify questions that have previously been asked, and focus on collecting new information in order to compete the full screening. If the potential participant does qualify for the study, an in-person Screening and Consent Visit (v1) will be scheduled during or after this phone call.

During the in-person Screening and Consent Visit, the participant will be provided with detailed verbal and written information regarding the study and activities it entails. This includes information regarding the nutritional content of the breakfast shakes, pre-visit 24-hour diet protocol (verbal and paper-copy instructions), and blood drawing procedures. If the participant willingly consents to the study and signs the consent form, the investigators will proceed with the rest of the screening visit. If participants are eligible to participate in the study after the Screening Visit, then they will complete two additional testing visits. After the fasting blood draw, participants will be given a breakfast shake to consume. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) will be used to quantify plasma urolithin-A, -B, and -C as well as their glucuronide conjugates. Additionally, LC-MS/MS will be used to measure plasma tocopherols and tocotrienols. Plasma changes in triglycerides and glucose will be determined by enzyme assay.