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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Actial Farmaceutica S.r.l. | INDUSTRY |
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This research aims to determine whether a 12 week daily dose of VSL#3 has any measurable effects on memory, attention, executive function or self-reported mood and anxiety in healthy older adults.
This research aims to investigate the effect of dietary supplement VSL#3 on memory, attention, executive function and mood in healthy older adults.
The study will be a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled design and eighty participants will be recruited to take part. Forty participants will be randomly allocated to the food supplement and 40 to placebo. As the sample is initially self-selecting where individuals volunteer to take part, a minimisation procedure will be used to randomise group allocation (Altman & Bland, 2005), with volunteers stratified by gender. Neither the participant nor the research assistant supplying the supplement will know which preparation is administered, thus ensuring double-blind administration.
Participants will be asked to take the food supplement daily for 12 weeks and the pre- and post- intervention data will be collected immediately before and after this time period.
Both pre- and post-intervention data will be collected using validated neuropsychological measures, cognitive measures, EEG and self-report questionnaires. Blood sampling will be conducted pre- and post-intervention by a Research Assistant trained in phlebotomy. Analysis will be carried out on each of the measures using a two-way ANCOVA, using the pre-treatment score as covariate.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | This group will intake the recommended daily amount of the food supplement VSL#3 (two sachets of the supplement in powder form) every day for twelve weeks. The two sachets will either be taken together or one in the morning and one in the evening. |
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| Placebo | Placebo Comparator | This group will intake two sachets (2x4.4g) of a placebo each day for 12 weeks. The placebo is in the same powdered form as the food supplement taken by the intervention group. The two sachets will either be taken together or one in the morning and one in the evening. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VSL#3 | Dietary Supplement | The intervention group will be asked to ingest two sachets (2x4.4g) of the food supplement (VSL#3) each day for 12 weeks, either both at the same time, or one in the morning and one in the evening. This food supplement is in powder form and can be ingested with either cold food or any non-carbonated cold drink. The control group will be given a placebo, although as it is a double-blind intervention, will not know it is a placebo. They will similarly to the intervention group be asked to take two sachets (2x4.4g) of a powder rach day for 12 weeks, either both at the same time, or one in the morning and one in the evening. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in cognition | Measures used to assess cognition: Mini Mental State Exam National Adult Reading Test Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) Category Fluency Task (Animal Fluency) Colour Trials test 1 & 2 Sustained Attention Response Task Choice Reaction Time Task Prospective Memory Task Self-Rated Memory Electrophysiological Measures (EEG spectral power - alpha range 8-14Hz) | Pre and Post the 12 week Intervention |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Mood | Measures used to assess changes in mood: Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety Scale (HADS-A) | Pre and Post the 12 week Intervention |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in levels of elements in blood | Blood samples will be taken by a Research Assistant trained in Phlebotomy and tested for the presence of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels, PCR, glucose, insulin, ceramide and metabolomics | Pre and Post the 12 week Intervention |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Lawlor | University of Dublin, Trinity College | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin | Dublin | Co. Dublin | 0000 | Ireland |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15817555 | Background | Altman DG, Bland JM. Treatment allocation by minimisation. BMJ. 2005 Apr 9;330(7495):843. doi: 10.1136/bmj.330.7495.843. No abstract available. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
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| placebo | Dietary Supplement |
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