Purpose of the study? This study aims to assess the relationships between fermented dairy and food consumption and different aspects of health relating to daily life. This includes cognition, affective outcomes, and cardiometabolic-related markers via blood sampling, particularly in individuals with metabolic health risk factors. Other aspects of health will also be captured, including gastrointestinal symptoms, satiety/hunger outcomes, sleep quality, and metabolic and anthropometric measures (blood pressure, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist and hip circumference).
What would taking part involve? The study will consist of one testing visit to the University of Reading. You will have your finger-prick blood sample taken. We will take a small blood sample (about the size of one teaspoon) using a finger prick. You will then complete a series of cognitive tests, mood questionnaires, and questionnaires providing information about your consumption of fermented dairy and foods in your regular diet, sleep, bowel movements, and hunger information. You will also have your weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and blood pressure measured. You will be given a light refreshment upon completion of the study.
Who can take part? To participate, you must be:
• 18-65 years old,
• Have normal or corrected vision and hearing, including colour blindness,
• Have a waist circumference of more than 94cm for men and more than 80cm for women, And have at least one of the following: • Raised blood pressure
• Treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension
• Previously diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
Unfortunately, you would not be eligible to participate in the study if you meet the following:
• Being anaemic (assessed by a finger-prick blood test on the testing day)
• Smoking
• Being diagnosed with any psychiatric or neurologic conditions (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, dementia), including eating disorders
• Being diagnosed with type I or II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, or thrombosis-related disorders or suffering from thyroid disease
• Diagnosed as suffering from any illness that may affect the ability of your blood to clot
• Pregnancy, lactation
• Following restrictive and/or unbalanced diets (including vegetarian, vegan etc…)
• Have changed your diet, including weight-reducing or other special diets, within the last month
• A significant gastrointestinal condition affecting the absorption of fermented foods, including (but not limited to): inflammatory bowel disease; weight loss surgery; Irritable bowel disease; end-stage renal disease, active cancer, or treatment for any cancer, in the last 3 years
• Currently taking antidepressants medication
• Continuous use of weight-loss drug for > 1 month before screening
How do I find out more? To find out more, including ways in which you can get involved, please contact Charlotte Weston at project.ferment@reading.ac.uk
Alternatively, please follow THIS LINK to find out more information: https://uor-redcap.reading.ac.uk/surveys/?s=K4C43FME8JWR4F9P
This study has received favourable opinion from the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) (2025-226-PH).