The Relation between Brain Function and Nutritional Status in Children and Youth
Summary
This study is about investigating the relation between nutritional status and brain activity and salivary biomarkers. In the future, we hope that such a study could be used to develop an assessment tool to assess and monitor the nutritional status of children and youth objectively and non-invasively.
Call to action
Do you want to help us understand the relationship between nutrition and brain activity in children and youth? Consider participating in this research study.
Who can participate
We are looking to recruit 20 children and youth, with or without disabilities, with the following profile:
- Must be able to remain still and tolerate fNIRS cap for about 10 minutes.
- Must be able to understand English and follow instructions.
- Must be able to lie down in supine position for ~ 20 mins.
- Must be able to breathe spontaneously and regularly (no mechanical ventilation, no severe respiratory distress)
- Must weigh more than 15 kg (33 lb)
- Must not have claustrophobia or intolerance to the canopy hood.
- Must be able to abstain from food for at least 4 hours prior to session.
- Must be able to provide ~ 2 ml of saliva.
- Must not have dry mouths or any disease related to the salivary glands and oral mucosa as well as oral lesions or other contact sensitivity.
- Must not require daily hormone treatment.
- Must not had chemotherapy treatment session less than 2-4 weeks prior to the data collection session.
Funding agency
NSERC, Research chair funding, and Schlumberger Stichting Fund.
What's involved
- You will attend one Zoom meeting to provide your consent and some demographic information.
- You will record your daily food and supplement intake for three days using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool before the onsite data collection.
- You will attend one onsite session for 90 minutes at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
- You will be instructed not to eat or drink (except water) for at least 4h, and not to chew gum, brush your teeth, or use mouthwash for at least 1h prior to the session.
- You will be asked to avoid taking glandular supplements (e.g., adrenal extract, liver, pancreas, spleen, thymus, & thyroid products or any supplement or protein powder containing hormones, and hormone creams) for at least 24 hours before saliva collection.
- You will provide your saliva sample.
- Your weight, height, and skinfold thickness will be measured.
- You will lie in a supine position while wearing a headcap with probes that will record your brain activity during a 10-minute rest period. During this time, a transparent canopy hood will also cover your upper body to measure your resting-energy expenditure.
Deadline
Interested in participating
If you are interested in participating in this study or have additional questions, please contact Amal Al-saqqaf at aalsaqqaf@hollandbloorview.ca or at 416-425-6220 ext. 3508 with your interest, and she will get back to your shortly. Contacting us does not obligate you to participate in the study.
Additional information
Participants will receive a small token of appreciation and a volunteer hours certificate to thank them for their time.
eREB #0557 - Version date: November 12, 2025
Deadline: January 2026 or until 20 participants have been recruited.
