Clinical trial NCT05863078: The Menus of Change Health and Heart Benefits for University Students
Official title: The Menus of Change Health and Heart Benefits for University Students (The MOCHAHS Trial): a Cross-sectional Study
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Conditions: Healthy Lifestyle
Keywords: Menus of Change
Arterial stiffness
Lead sponsor: University of Reading
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-05-17
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 25
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Participants eating in the university halls following the Menus of Change diet will be selected and compared to participants living in the university halls but not following the Menus of Change and therefore eating outside the university dining halls

Brief summary: The goal of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the health benefits of the Menus of Change in undergraduate university students, by comparing 2 groups: Students eating in the Menus of change catered halls, versus students eating outside the Menus of change meal plan. The main question it aims to answer is:

What are the effects of the menus of change on other vascular outcomes, namely blood pressure? What are the effects of the menus of change on other health markers?

Detailed description: The Menus of Change (MoC) is an example of behaviour change that was created by The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. This initiative is based on a set of around 24 core principles, mainly promoting and serving 'healthy, sustainable, and delicious' food in restaurants and foodservice operations. The University of Reading has successfully implemented the MoC across the campus and in students' accommodations. However, MoC is not implemented across all campus halls.

To date, most of the studies performed in relation to the MoC had explored techniques to encourage students towards healthier, more sustainable diets. Very little research focuses on the associated health outcomes and hence the impact on health of the eating pattern laid out in the MoC principles.

Therefore, this project aims to investigate the health impact of the menu of change on university students, by comparing 2 groups: students eating in MoC catered halls, following the meal plan provided by the university food services, versus students who do not follow the menus of change meal plan. The primary aim will be to investigate the effect of the MoC on vascular outcomes, namely arterial stiffness, a particularly important tool in younger adults with low-moderate cardiovascular disease risk.

Secondary aims will be to investigate other vascular outcomes, namely blood pressure changes, as well as looking at other health markers, such as full blood count, lipid profile, sugar levels, liver and kidney function, and CVD related inflammatory markers. In addition, the study aims to look at the impact of the MoC on stress and anxiety levels and the differences in students' attainment between groups.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults
* Home students living in university halls
* Undergraduates
* Can understand participant information sheet and willing to comply with the study design

Exclusion Criteria:

* International students
* postgraduates
* living outside the university halls
* participating in other studies

Primary outcomes:
measure: Arterial stiffness
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Full blood count
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
measure: Lipid profile
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
measure: Glucose levels
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
measure: liver profile
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
measure: Kidney profile
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
measure: SCFA levels
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
measure: Cardiovascular disease related inflammatory biomarkers
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary
Other outcomes:
measure: Depression and anxiety survey
timeFrame: up to 2 weeks before the study visit
measure: Academic attainment
timeFrame: By the end of academic year
measure: Urine dietary biomarkers level
timeFrame: 24-hours before the study visit
Locations:
Study officials:
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