Tart Cherries and Melatonin Content

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Sleep
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Fruit juice cordial; Dietary Supplement: Cherry juice

• Registration Number: NCT01528202
• Lead Sponsor: Northumbria University

Brief Summary

The aim of this investigation was to examine the effects of tart Montmorency cherry juice on urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and sleep quality using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design.

Detailed Description

The aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of tart cherry juice on sleep quality, quantity, and timing. Naturally circulating melatonin is instrumental in regulating sleep/wake schedules. Tart Montmorency cherries (Prunus Cerasus) contain high levels of melatonin and may be a useful intervention to supplement for realignment of circadian phase and by increasing the robustness of circadian amplitude. In normal healthy adults, with experimentally induced phase advanced circadian misalignment, the administration of a 3mg supplement of melatonin significantly increased sleep architecture characteristics. In this study we want to examine the efficacy of tart cherry juice in increasing urinary levels of melatonin and the subsequent impact this will have on sleep parameters.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-04
• Primary Completion: 2011-02
• Study Completion: 2011-06
• Status Verified: 2012-02
• Study First Submitted: 2012-02-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-02-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-02-03
• Study First Posted: 2012-02-07
• Last Update Posted: 2012-02-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Equal numbers of healthy, non-pathological males and females aged between 18-39.

Exclusion Criteria

• history of epilepsy, current episode of major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder, or a current sleep problem or an inability to comprehend English, travel over two time zones within the last six months, excessive alcohol (over 3 units per day) or caffeine consumption (more than 6 caffeinated drinks or 1 after 6pm), a smoker, a shift worker, a familial history of diabetes, users of medication or supplements, or if the participant is pregnant or currently lactating.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Fruit juice cordial	Placebo intervention given after 'baseline placebo' arm
cherry juice	Cherry juice	trial where cherry juice is taken following the 'baseline cherry juice' arm

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin	continually for 48 hours	urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin is the primary metabolite of melatonin and provides a sarrogate marker of melatonin metabolism. By measuring over a 48 h period it is possible to examine the circadian rhythm of melatonin.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sleep quality	continually throughout the duration of the study	Acti watches quantitively measure sleep and activity of participants, whereas slep recall provides a retrospective and subjective m,easure of sleep quality.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northumbria University; 🇬🇧 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom