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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01858337

Mum Can I Have Vegetables Again? Development of Vegetable Preferences

* Rationale: Despite the health benefits, children's consumption of vegetables is below the recommendations. Most human food preferences are learned through mere exposure, imitation, and conditioning principles. During the last years, it has become clear that the development of food preferences starts very early in life. Furthermore, preferences that are learned early in life, are relatively stable and may track into adulthood. However, it is unclear how vegetable preferences develop from infancy until young childhood. In order to influence vegetable consumption, it is essential to study the opportunities to develop a preference for vegetable products early in childhood. * Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of repeated exposure to vegetables compared to repeated exposure to fruit during weaning on short and long term vegetable and fruit intake. Furthermore, the stability of the learned fruit or vegetable preferences and the later food preferences are measured (i.e. vegetable, fruits, sweets). * Study design:

In this longitudinal study we will measure the development of preferences for a particular vegetable or fruit type within 4 to 6 months old subjects, during a 19 day exposure period to fruit or vegetables (of which 9 days exposure to the target fruit or vegetable) and 6 months after this exposure period. In addition, we compare the food preferences (fruit, vegetable, sweet foods in general), after 6 months, between infants who were weaned with a variety of fruits and infants who were weaned with a variety of vegetables.

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Key information

Conditions

Vegetable Intake After Weaning With Vegetables or Fruits Fruit Intake After Weaning With Vegetables or Fruits

Age range

4 month–6 month

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Wageningen University

Wageningen, Gelderland, 6703 HD, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Infants between 4 and 6 months of age that are apparently healthy are invited to participate in the study. The parents have to give permission for themselves and for their infant to participate by signing an informed consent. By signing the informed consent the parents also agree to participate in the study for 2 years.

Exclusion criteria

  • The parents will not sign the informed consent
  • The parents have already started weaning their child
  • The infant has a food allergy or intolerance
  • The child has medical problems that influences with eating or food digestion. (e.g. schisis, problems with the bowls)
  • The child has a known cognitive or physical developmental problem, which influences how the child's reaction or facial expressions.

Treatment and study plan

green beans group

Other

Infants were weaned with vegetable purees for the first 18 days of weaning. One vegetable type per day. With green beans every other day.

Artichoke group

Other

Infants were weaned with vegetable purees for the first 18 days of weaning. One vegetable type per day. With artichoke every other day.

Apple group

Other

Infants were weaned with fruit purees for the first 18 days of weaning. One fruit type per day. With apple every other day.

Plums group

Other

Infants were weaned with fruit purees for the first 18 days of weaning. One fruit type per day. With Plums every other day.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Vegetable and fruit intake

    Time frame: At the first 19 days of weaning (4-6 months of age)

    Change in Vegetable and fruit intake from before to after the repeated exposure to it. Measured at day 1 and 2 and day 17 and 18 at the intervention.

  2. Intake of the target Vegetables and fruits at 12 months of age.

    Time frame: 6 months after the intervention. Mean age 12 months.

    Vegetable and fruit intake at 12 months of age. Measured in the lab. Fruit group received apple, plum and green beans at 3 different days

  3. Green beans and Apple intake at 23 months of age.

    Time frame: when infants are 23 months of age

    Green beans and Apple intake at 23 months of age.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Vegetable and in fruit intake after the repeated exposure

    Time frame: After the repeated exposure period during the first 19 days of weaning

    Difference in vegetable intake between vegetable and fruit groups and in fruit intake between the vegetable and fruit groups. Vegetable intake is measured on day 17 and 18 in the vegetable groups and in the fruit groups at day 19 (when fruit groups gets the first vegetable.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Wageningen University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Mum Can I Have Vegetables Again? Development of Vegetable Preferences.

Acronym: VaVo

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
May 21, 2013
Registry last updated
May 21, 2013

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.