Arbizu Shirley, Mertens-Talcott Susanne U, Talcott Stephen, Riviere Aaron, Riechman Steven E, Noratto Giuliana D
Department of Food Science and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Nutrients. 2025 Feb 24;17(5):784. doi: 10.3390/nu17050784.
Obesity is linked to a higher risk of cognitive impairment. The objective of this single blind randomized trial was to evaluate the impact of dark sweet cherry (DSC) intake on cognitive function in obese adults. Participants (body mass index (BMI): 30-40 kg/m, >18 years, without chronic diseases and/or antibiotic use) consumed 200 mL of DSC drink with 3 g of cherry powder ( = 19) or an isocaloric placebo drink ( = 21) twice daily for 30 days. Cognitive function was assessed at Day 1 (D1) and Day 30 (D30) using standardized cognitive tests and the NeuroTracker (NT) 3D training program. Blood biomarkers related to cognitive health (neurotensin, substance p, and oxytocin) and circadian rhythm (melatonin and cortisol) were assessed at D1 and D30 using a Luminex multiplex bead-based immunoassay. DSC supplementation significantly improved working memory and concentration, as indicated by higher scores in the digit span forward (DSF, = 0.006) and backward (DSB, = 0.01) tests. However, processing speed, sustained attention, and visual spatial skills, assessed through the trail making (TMT) and digit symbol substitution (DSST) tests, as well as visual cognitive performance (VCP) evaluated by the NT program, showed no significant differences between groups. Neurotensin, associated with cognitive deficits, increased in both cherry and placebo groups but was significant only in the placebo group ( = 0.007). Similarly, melatonin increased in both groups, reaching significance only in the placebo group ( = 0.02), and it correlated positively with IFNγ, suggesting a compensatory response to inflammation. These findings suggest DSC supplementation may enhance specific cognitive functions in obese adults. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.
肥胖与认知障碍风险较高有关。这项单盲随机试验的目的是评估摄入深色甜樱桃（DSC）对肥胖成年人认知功能的影响。参与者（体重指数（BMI）：30 - 40 kg/m²，年龄>18岁，无慢性病和/或未使用抗生素）每天两次饮用200 mL含3 g樱桃粉的DSC饮料（n = 19）或等热量的安慰剂饮料（n = 21），持续30天。在第1天（D1）和第30天（D30）使用标准化认知测试和NeuroTracker（NT）3D训练程序评估认知功能。在D1和D30使用基于Luminex多重微珠的免疫测定法评估与认知健康相关的血液生物标志物（神经降压素、P物质和催产素）以及昼夜节律（褪黑素和皮质醇）。补充DSC显著改善了工作记忆和注意力，正向数字广度（DSF，p = 0.006）和反向数字广度（DSB，p = 0.01）测试得分更高表明了这一点。然而，通过连线测验（TMT）和数字符号替换（DSST）测试评估的处理速度、持续注意力和视觉空间技能，以及由NT程序评估的视觉认知表现（VCP），两组之间没有显著差异。与认知缺陷相关的神经降压素在樱桃组和安慰剂组中均升高，但仅在安慰剂组中具有统计学意义（p = 0.007）。同样，两组中的褪黑素均升高，仅在安慰剂组中具有统计学意义（p = 0.02），并且它与IFNγ呈正相关，表明对炎症的代偿反应。这些发现表明补充DSC可能增强肥胖成年人的特定认知功能。需要进一步的临床试验来证实这些结果。
