Milk-Tot Study: Impact of Whole Versus Low-fat Milk on Child Health

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

In the U.S. it is recommended that children consume whole cow's milk (3.5% fat) from ages 1 to 2 years to support rapid early growth and brain development, and then at age 2 years transition to low-fat (1%) or non-fat milk to reduce saturated fat and calorie intake. To date, few studies have examined the optimal milk type for children to prevent obesity. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effect of consumption of whole versus 1% milk on child adiposity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06230510

Run by

University of California, Davis

People needed

625

Starts

2024-08-15

Expected to finish

2028-06-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-18

Who can join

Age: 2 and older, up to 4. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Parents of children: 1) willing to be randomized to provide either only whole or 1% milk to their child for 1 year, 2) access to a smart phone and a tablet, laptop or computer with internet and email at home, 3) ability to speak and read English or Spanish for the purposes of receiving study communications and completing surveys and dietary assessments (to avoid needing to translate all study materials and have research staff fluent in other languages due to budget limits), 4) not planning to move outside of the San Francisco Bay Area or discontinue being child's primary caregiver for the next year (e.g., foster care, parent separation).

You may not qualify if…

• Children: 1) <23 months or >48 months old at recruitment; 2) condition or medication that affects growth or daily feeding, or cardiometabolic health such as hypopituitarism, growth hormone deficiency, inborn error of metabolism, syndromic obesity, familial hypercholesterolemia, 3) weight-for-length or height below the 2nd percentile, 4) lactose intolerance, milk allergy or other dietary restrictions (e.g., vegan) that impact ability to consume dairy or otherwise limit dietary intake, 5) resides in more than one household (e.g., shared care by separated parents), and 6) not covered by public or private medical insurance (may reduce well-child doctor visits). If two eligible children are in a household, one will be randomly selected to participate.

Where it is running

• Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources — Oakland, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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