Clinical trial NCT04935099: The Effects of a Single Dose of Wild Blueberries on Mood and Cognition in Healthy Young Adults
Official title: The Effects of a Single Dose of Wild Blueberries on Mood and Cognition in Healthy Young Adults: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Mood
Affect
Cognition
Keywords: blueberry
anthocyanins
flavonoids
Lead sponsor: University of Reading
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Wild Blueberry Association of North America
First posted: 2021-06-22
Enrollment: 33
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 25
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study aims to investigate whether consuming a drink containing powdered blueberries (equivalent to 150 g fresh fruit) can improve mood and cognition in healthy young adults. Blood biomarkers of inflammation and neurotransmitter turnover will be analyzed as well as responses to computer-based cognitive tasks designed to measure verbal memory, executive function, and emotional processing.

Detailed description: The present study will examine the psychological effects of a single dose of freeze-dried wild blueberries using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design. A total of 30 healthy young adults will consume two drinks: one containing 22 g blueberry powder and the other containing 22 g matched placebo powder in counterbalanced order one week apart. The investigators will assess changes in transient mood, cognitive-emotional function, and serum biomarkers of inflammation, neuroplasticity, and monoamine metabolism from baseline to 2 hours post-ingestion.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 to 25 years of age
* Willingness to provide blood samples

Exclusion Criteria:

* Allergy to blueberries or any other Vaccinium species
* Diagnosis or symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions
* Any medically significant condition (e.g. anemia, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes)
* Use of psychoactive medication or recreational drugs in the last two weeks
* Current use of medication that could interact with the intervention (e.g. antibiotics)
* Obesity or underweight
* Participation in other interventional studies in the last month
* Pregnancy or lactation

Primary outcomes:
measure: Global transient mood as measured by PANAS-X
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Global transient mood as measured by PANAS-X
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Negative interpretation bias
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Negative interpretation bias
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Cognitive flexibility (accuracy on post-switch trials)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Cognitive flexibility (accuracy on post-switch trials)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Delayed verbal memory on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Delayed verbal memory on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Distinct affective states as measured by PANAS-X subscales
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Distinct affective states as measured by PANAS-X subscales
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Reaction time to positive stimuli
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Reaction time to positive stimuli
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Reaction time to negative stimuli
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Reaction time to negative stimuli
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Attentional bias to emotional information
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Attentional bias to emotional information
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Cognitive flexibility (accuracy on remaining trials of task-switching test)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Cognitive flexibility (accuracy on remaining trials of task-switching test)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Choice reaction time (post-switch trials)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Choice reaction time (post-switch trials)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Choice reaction time (remaining trials of task-switching test)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Choice reaction time (remaining trials of task-switching test)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Final acquisition on RAVLT (Trial 5)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Final acquisition on RAVLT (Trial 5)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Recall of interference list on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Recall of interference list on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Immediate recall on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Immediate recall on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Proactive interference on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Proactive interference on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Retroactive interference on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Retroactive interference on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Retention on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Retention on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Serum monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibition
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Serum monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibition
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Serum 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Serum 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
measure: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP)
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP)
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
Other outcomes:
measure: Recognition memory on RAVLT
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Recognition memory on RAVLT
timeFrame: 2 hours post-ingestion
Locations:
city: Reading
country: United Kingdom
facility: School of Psychology and Clinical Languages, University of Reading
state: Berkshire
Study officials:
References: