Cranberry juice has long been known for its benefits to urinary tract health, but a new study suggests that it may also positively affect memory and the way the body copes with stress.
Researchers from King's College London set out to find out whether daily consumption of cranberry juice could affect the mood and cognitive functions of students. The results, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, offer some promising signs.
How was the study conducted?
The study was conducted using one of the most reliable scientific research methods, where neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was consuming the cranberry juice and who was drinking the placebo until the end of the study.
The study involved 72 healthy students, aged 20-26. For 12 weeks, one group consumed 236 milliliters of cranberry juice daily, while the other group consumed a placebo drink with the same color and flavor, but without the active ingredients.
Cranberry juice contained 442 milligrams of polyphenols per day, including 303 milligrams of proanthocyanidins, compounds with powerful antioxidant properties.
During the study, mood, stress, anxiety and depression levels were measured through standardized questionnaires. Memory and cognitive functions were also tested with computer tests, while saliva, blood and urine samples were analyzed for cortisol levels and compounds that are created during the processing of polyphenols in the body.
What did the researchers discover?
When the participants' responses were analyzed, no significant differences in mood, anxiety, stress, or depression were observed between the two groups.
However, biological analyses told a different story.
After 12 weeks, people who consumed blueberry juice had lower levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. They also performed better on tests of short-term memory and short-term phonological memory compared to the placebo group.
Blood and urine tests showed increased levels of polyphenols and hippuric acid, a compound that is produced during their processing. The higher these levels were, the lower cortisol levels were. This suggests that these compounds may affect how the body copes with stress, although the study does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
What are the limitations?
The researchers point out that the participants were all young and in good health, with low levels of stress and anxiety at the start. For this reason, it was harder to observe noticeable changes in mood.
Most of the participants were women and of Asian origin, so the results may not necessarily apply to the entire population.
Also, the effects on memory and cortisol emerged from secondary analyses of the study. Since many indicators were analyzed simultaneously, there is a possibility that some of the positive results are due to chance.
The study lasted only 12 weeks and evaluated only a single food, not the entire diet.
Funding was provided by the Blueberry Institute, however the researchers emphasize that the funder had no role in the design, analysis, or interpretation of the results.
What does this mean in everyday life?
For now, experts advise cautious optimism.
The participants in this study consumed fewer polyphenols than average, so it was easier to benefit from adding them to their diet.
The message remains the same: brain and body health does not depend on a single food, but on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and tea.
Cranberry juice can be part of this diet, but it should not be seen as a sole solution.
What do the experts conclude?
The study shows that daily consumption of cranberry juice can help reduce stress hormones and improve short-term memory, although no improvement in mood or anxiety was observed.
Larger studies with more diverse participants are needed to confirm these results. However, if you like cranberry juice, including it in a healthy diet may be a good choice for brain health as well.
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