The Healthy Cookie Energy Study: Understanding How Healthy Cookies Affect Mitochondrial Biology

The proposed research is an intervention and feasibility pilot trial designed to determine if short-term consumption of healthy cookies made with an oil rich in linoleic acid can influence mitochondria biology in white blood cells and muscle. The hypothesis of the study is that consuming 1 healthy cookie rich in linoleic acid each day for two weeks will improve mitochondrial biology in white blood cells and muscle.

Linoleic acid has many health benefits including altering body composition and energy metabolism, possibly through its impact on cardiolipin and mitochondria. The investigators plan to test the central hypothesis and accomplish the overall objective of this research by pursuing the following four specific aims Aim 1) To assess muscle biopsy yield with a micro biopsy needle Aim 2) To determine the amount of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and muscle needed to measure mitochondria function Aim 3) To assess the feasibility of measuring mitochondria function on fresh PBMC and muscle samples Aim 4) To determine the effect of short-term healthy cookies made with linoleic acid rich oil on measures of mitochondrial function in white blood cells and muscle as well as their relationship to lipid composition of the blood, markers of metabolic health and markers of mitochondria biogenesis

Inclusion Criteria: * Nonsmoker Exclusion Criteria: * Allergy/intolerance to lidocaine * Gastrointestinal diseases or disorders (including pancreatic) or gastric bypass surgery * Food Allergy or Intolerance * Any dietary restriction where consumption of these healthy cookies or any ingredient would be contraindicated * Use of medications where consuming the healthy cookies would be contraindicated * Pregnancy * Use of anticoagulant, antiplatelet, or other blood thinner medications * Diabetes