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Polyphenol-rich tart cherries (Prunus Cerasus, cv Montmorency) improve sustained attention, feelings of alertness and mental fatigue and influence the plasma metabolome in middle-aged adults: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

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Kimble, Rachel, Keane, Karen M., Lodge, John K., Cheung, William, Haskell-Ramsay, Crystal and Howatson, Glyn (2022) Polyphenol-rich tart cherries (Prunus Cerasus, cv Montmorency) improve sustained attention, feelings of alertness and mental fatigue and influence the plasma metabolome in middle-aged adults: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition. pp. 1-12. ISSN 0007-1145

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Abstract

Tart Montmorency cherries (MC) are a particularly rich source of anthocyanins and other polyphenols that have been shown to elicit antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and vasomodulatory actions. The current study aimed to determine the influence of chronic MC supplementation on cognitivefunction and mood. In a 3-month double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel study, middle-aged adults (mean±SD:48±6 years) were ran-domly assigned to either 30 ml twice daily of MC (n25) or the same amount of an isoenergetic placebo (n25). Cognitive function and moodwere assessed before and after supplementation using a computerised cognitive task battery and visual analogue scales. Cerebral blood flow wasalso monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy during the task battery, and questionnaires were administered to determine subjective sleep andhealth status and plasma metabolomics were analysed before and after supplementation. After 3 months, the MC resulted in higher accuracy indigit vigilance (mean difference: 3·3, 95 % CI: 0·2, 6·4 %) with lower number of false alarms (mean difference:−1·2, 95 % CI:−2·0,−0·4) com-pared with the placebo. There was also a treatment effect for higher alertness (mean difference: 5·9, 95 % CI: 1·3, 10·5 %) and lower mentalfatigue ratings (mean difference−9·5, 95 % CI:−16·5,−2·5 %) with MC. Plasma metabolomics revealed an increase in a number of amino acidsin response to MC intake, but not placebo. These data suggest an anti-fatiguing effect of MC supplementation as well as the ability to improvesustained attention during times of high cognitive demand, this could be related to changes in amino acid metabolism

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