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The Effect of Tart Cherry (Prunus Cerasus) Concentrate on Physiological and Cognitive Function

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cognitive Function
Exercise Capacity
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Montmorency tart cherry concentrate
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT04021342
Lead Sponsor
Northumbria University
Brief Summary

A randomized, double blind, counterbalanced, placebo controlled independent groups design to determine the effects of 3 month supplementation with tart cherry concentrate on indices of cardiometabolic health, exercise capacity and cognitive function. Following screening and recruitment, participants are familiarised with the testing equipment and procedures after which they will be randomly assigned to receive either Montmorency tart cherry concentrate (MC) or an isocaloric placebo (PLA), stratified by gender. The study is comprised of two experimental visits and outcome variables are assessed at baseline (before supplementation) and at 3 months (follow up; after supplementation).

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
56
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy individuals between the ages of 40-60 years
  • consume on average ≤5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
  • additionally have ≥1 risk factor for type 2 diabetes
Exclusion Criteria
  • not regularly taking medication (or stabilised ≥ 3 months, with no adverse symptoms) or antioxidant supplements
  • history of cardiometabolic, gastointestinal disease or malabsorption syndromes
  • stage 2 hypertension (SBP >159 mm Hg or DBP >99 mm Hg)
  • individuals who report changes in dietary or physical activity patterns within 3 months
  • vegetarians, vegans or known eating disorders
  • alcohol intake of more than 21 units per week
  • BMI ≥40 kg/m2
  • are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study, lactating, or initiating or changing a hormone replacement therapy regimen within 3 months of the start of the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Montmorency tart cherry concentrateMontmorency tart cherry concentrateParticipants will consume 30 ml of Montmorency tart cherry concentrate (MC) concentrate (King Orchard farms, USA) twice daily, once in the morning and again in the evening. According to the manufacturer each 30 ml dose of MC is estimated to be equivalent to approximately 90 whole cherries (equating to \~180 cherries per day).
Isocaloric cherry flavoured placeboPlaceboThe PLA is prepared by mixing by mixing unsweetened black cherry flavoured Kool-Aid (Kraft Foods, United States), dextrose, fructose with water to best match the calorie content of the MC concentrate. Additional lemon juice, for tartness, and artificial food colouring is added so the final product had a similar visual properties to the active comparator.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Arterial StiffnessChange from baseline at 3 months

Augmentation index (%)

Blood pressureChange from baseline at 3 months

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

Endothelial functionChange from baseline at 3 months

Flow mediated dilation (% change)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cognitive functionChange from baseline at 3 months

Computerized cognitive function assessment reaction time (m/s)

Cerebral Blood flowChange from baseline at 3 months

Deoxygenated heamoglobin (deoxyhb)

Indices of metabolic healthChange from baseline at 3 months

glucose (mmol/L) triglycerides (mmol/L) LDL cholesterol (mmol/L) HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

Exercise CapacityChange from baseline at 3 months

Estimated aerobic exercise capacity (VO2max) measured by a submaximal cycling test

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northumbria University

🇬🇧

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

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