This study aims to determine the effect of blueberry (poly)phenol vs placebo on vascular function and cognitive performance with an insight into cerebral blood flow velocity changes, across all ages of the general healthy population.
Foods rich in certain (poly)phenols, particularly flavonoids, such as berries, have been shown to improve measures of vascular function as well as cognitive performance in human intervention studies. Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, a subclass of flavonoids that have been widely linked to health benefits, particularly improvements in endothelial function. Research have previously shown that blueberries improve executive functioning and memory in both healthy adults and children. These improvements were seen within 2-5 hours post-consumption of blueberries, a time-course that positively correlates with improvements in vascular function (measured as flow-mediated dilation). This indicates that increases in blood flow may influence improvements in cognitive performance. To date no study has investigated whether blueberry consumption can induce an increase in cerebral blood flow, with subsequent improvements in vascular and cognitive function. In this study, investigators aim to directly link wild blueberry consumption with increased vascular and cerebral blood flow and positive cognitive outcomes in healthy individuals through the life course, between the ages of 8 and 80 years old. Investigators will use a large group of healthy subjects representative of the general public over a wide age range in males and females to evaluate the generalisability of the health benefits of blueberry consumption.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
92
Freeze-dried whole fruit blueberry drink.
Freeze-dried placebo powder
King's College London
London, United Kingdom
Cognitive function
Cognitive testing involves the participant conducting tasks administered on a tablet-style laptop. The participants will be conducting these tasks whilst cerebral blood flow measurements are taking place. The cognitive testing battery will consist of 4 tasks including a mood assessment (PANAS).
Time frame: Change from baseline cognitive function at 2 hours post-consumption
Endothelial Function
Flow mediated dilation (FMD)
Time frame: Change from baseline endothelial function at 2 hours post-consumption
Cerebral blood flow (CBF)
Trans-cranial blood flow will be assessed by Non-imaging transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD)
Time frame: Change of baseline cerebral blood flow at 2 hours post consumption
Blood pressure
Automated clinical digital sphygmomanometer
Time frame: Change from baseline systolic blood pressure at 2 hours post consumption
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