Genistein, Equol, Cognitive Function and Mood: Twelve-week. (GECFAMc)

The design of this study is as a three-arm, placebo controlled, double-blind with between-groups comparison. Adult participants aged 18 years old and over will be recruited to the study from the local community (see Appendix H for recruitment poster). After demonstrating an initial interest in the study, participants will be sent the participant information sheet (Appendix A), a health and lifestyle questionnaire (Appendix C), and FFQ to assess habitual diets, supplements and medications (Appendix D). A screening interview will be used to answer the health and lifestyle questionnaire and participants who meet the screening criteria will be able to undergo a practice session where they will sign a consent form (Appendix B) and familiarise themselves with the cognitive tasks and mood questionnaires. Recruitment materials will include posting posters advertising (Appendix H) as well as posts on pertinent social media outlets (such as Reddit page r/Reading)

Following a this screening session wherein the researchers will check exclusion/inclusion criteria have been met; participants will be quasi-randomly allocated to intervention based on age and sex, consisting of a control group (maltodextrin), a genistein group (70mg/day) and an equol group (70mg/day). Participants will also undergo a familiarisation session with the computerised software. Return appointments will be made for their study days and participants will be reminded of their right to withdraw from the study at any point. Helplines and web links with support and advice will be provided (Mind, Alzheimer's Society, Dementia UK) alongside advice to contact their GP should they require medical support.

On the first testing day (baseline), participants will attend the laboratory after consuming their standard breakfast, but to refrain from consuming any caffeine-containing products (researchers will ask participants to consume the same breakfast on their second test day). Upon arrival at the University, participants will be asked to complete a battery of cognitive tasks and to complete some mood questionnaire.

On completion of the battery, the participants will be supplied with their allocation of intervention and asked to consume one capsule every day for a 12-week period.

After 6 and 12 weeks of consuming the intervention, subjects will return to the lab for their 2nd & 3rd study days. On these test days, subjects will be asked not to consume their intervention until after testing has occurred. Here the researchers will follow the same protocol as for the 1st study day, where a single set of cognitive tests and mood measures will be completed. At the end of the trial, pots of pills will be returned to researchers and compared against the expected number of remaining pills to measure adherence.

The task battery is composed of cognitive tests and measures of mood, which previous data have shown to be sensitive to nutritional interventions chronically. More generally, the cognitive tests are categorised into one of three key cognitive domains, speed of processing/memory/executive function whilst changes in mood will be measured using the PANAS.

Inclusion criteria

• Not currently undertaking medications including but not limited to Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Generally Healthy

Exclusion criteria

• Participant (female) has not menstruated in >12 months (post-menopausal).
• Allergy to soy