Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Fibre and Mental Wellbeing Feasibility Trial

Researchers are investigating if adding a small amount of extra fibre to your daily diet can make a positive difference to your mental well-being. This study will involve people aged 18 to 40 who will add an extra 10 grams of fibre to their food each day for two weeks. The aim is to see if this dietary change can help improve things like how well they sleep, reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, and even make them feel more optimistic. It's a short-term study to understand if there's a link between what we eat and how we feel mentally.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Reading

Enrolment target

Start

01 May 2025

Estimated completion

05 Sep 2027

Affect (Mental Function)Sleep Anxiety Stress

What is this study about?

This study wants to find out if eating a little bit more fibre can improve how young adults feel mentally. We know that everything from sleep to stress can affect our mood, and recent research suggests that what we eat might play a bigger role than we previously thought, especially fibre. This study is a small, initial step to explore that connection.

The idea is for participants to simply add an extra 10 grams of fibre to their meals every day for two weeks. To help with this, everyone taking part will get a list of food items that are high in fibre. Before and after these two weeks, the researchers will ask questions about their mood, feelings of anxiety and stress, sleep quality, and even gut health to see if there have been any changes.

This is what's called a 'feasibility study', which means it's designed to see if this type of research is possible and if the changes observed are noticeable enough to warrant a larger study in the future. It’s an important step in understanding how diet might link to our mental well-being.

Key takeaways

This study explores how extra fibre might improve mental well-being.
Participants will add 10 grams of fibre to their diet daily for two weeks.
It focuses on young adults aged 18-40.
Researchers will check changes in mood, sleep, anxiety, and stress.
It's a small study to see if a bigger trial is a good idea in the future.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a young adult between 18 and 40 years old. You should have normal eyesight and hearing, and your body mass index (BMI) should be between 18.5 and 30. Also, you shouldn't already be eating a very high-fibre diet (more than 20 grams per day).

There are some reasons why you might not be able to take part. For instance, if you smoke, have food allergies, or follow very strict diets, you won't be suitable. The study also can't include you if you've recently changed your diet a lot, have been diagnosed with any mental health or nerve conditions, or have certain heart, blood pressure, or thyroid issues.

Finally, if you're currently taking certain medications like blood thinners, antidepressants, or acid reflux medicines, or if you regularly use prebiotics, probiotics, laxatives, or antibiotics, you won't be able to join. Having significant stomach or bowel problems would also mean you can't participate.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 40 years old?
Do you have normal vision and hearing?
Is your BMI (Body Mass Index) between 18.5 and 30?
Do you eat less than 20 grams of fibre per day?
Do you currently avoid smoking or using particular medications?
Do you have no diagnosed mental health or long-term physical conditions?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be asked to add an extra 10 grams of fibre to your daily meals for two weeks. To help you with this, you'll receive a helpful list of foods that are rich in fibre. Before you start, and then again after the two weeks are up, you'll answer some questions. These questions will cover things like your mood, sleep patterns, how stressed or anxious you feel, and any digestive symptoms you might have. There are no clinic visits mentioned, so it's likely these assessments will be completed remotely. The total duration of your active participation will be just two weeks.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part could include gaining a better understanding of how diet affects your mental well-being and potentially experiencing improvements in your mood, sleep, or stress levels. As you'll be increasing your fibre intake, some people might experience mild digestive changes, such as gas or bloating, especially at the beginning – this is usually temporary. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Reading, School of Psychology and Clinical Languages
Verified postcode
Reading, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is fibre and where can I find it in food?

Fibre is a part of plant foods that your body can't digest. You can find it in fruits, vegetables, whole grains (like wholemeal bread and oats), beans, and lentils.

How much extra fibre will I need to eat?

You'll be asked to add just 10 grams of fibre to your normal daily diet. For reference, a medium apple has about 4 grams of fibre, and a bowl of oatmeal can have around 4-5 grams.

Will I have to prepare special meals?

No, you won't need to prepare special meals. You'll simply be given a list of high-fibre foods to help you boost your fibre intake using everyday items.

What happens after the two weeks?

After two weeks, you'll answer the same questions you did at the beginning. This helps the researchers see if the change in your diet has made any difference to your mood and well-being.

Is this study suitable for people with long-term health conditions?

Generally, this study is not for people with long-term health conditions like heart problems, mental health diagnoses, or ongoing digestive issues. Please check the full eligibility details carefully.