Enhancing Children's Cognitive Function and Achievement Through Carotenoid Consumption

Enhancing Children's Cognitive Function and Achievement Through Carotenoid Consumption

The aim of this study is to test the casual relationship between carotenoid supplementation, cognitive function, and achievement over a school-year. The central hypothesis is that, relative to the waitlist placebo group, children receiving the carotenoid supplement will exhibit greater gains in cognitive function and achievement.

This clinical trial will be a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial to examine the effects of carotenoid supplementation on cognitive control, hippocampal-dependent relational memory, and academic achievement among pre-adolescents over one school year (i.e. 9-months).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Child assent and parent/guardian consent
• 8-10 years of age
• No lutein supplementation within 6-months prior to enrollment (exception of multivitamins containing less than 1 mg lutein/day)
• Absence of learning disability (parent-reported)
• Tanner scale score ≤ 2
• 20/20 or corrected vision

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-assent of child or non-consent of guardian
• Above/below 8-10 years of age
• Lutein supplementation within 6-months prior to enrollment (including multivitamins containing more than 1 mg lutein/day)
• Identified learning disability (parent-reported)
• Tanner scale score > 2
• Not 20/20 or uncorrected vision