RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Investigating the Effects of a Haskap Berry Supplement on Cognitive Health

This study is exploring whether a special supplement made from haskap berries can help improve brain function (like memory and thinking skills), blood vessel health, and metabolism (how your body uses energy) in healthy adults aged 50 and above. Researchers are interested in both the immediate effects after taking the supplement and the longer-term benefits after using it daily for four weeks. They are comparing a pure haskap berry powder to one that also has added vitamins and minerals, as well as a dummy supplement (placebo) with no active ingredients. The goal is to understand if these berry supplements can offer a natural way to support people's health as they get older, helping them stay sharp and healthy.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Reading

Enrolment target

Start

19 Jun 2025

Estimated completion

01 Apr 2026

Cognition

What is this study about?

This study is designed to find out if taking a haskap berry supplement can be good for your brain, your blood vessels, and your general health, especially as you get older. Haskap berries are a type of berry known to be rich in beneficial plant compounds, and researchers are keen to see if these could help people aged 50 and over. We often hear about 'superfoods', and this study is a scientific way to investigate if haskap berries could be one of them for maintaining good health.

The main idea is to see if taking a haskap berry supplement helps with things like memory, how well your brain handles different tasks, and your mood. It also looks at how the supplement might affect your blood sugar levels and the health of your blood vessels. The study will compare different versions of the supplement – one with just haskap berry powder, and another that also has extra vitamins and minerals added. There will also be a group who take a 'dummy' supplement, called a placebo, which looks the same but has no active ingredients. This helps scientists truly understand if any changes are due to the haskap berries themselves.

Researchers will observe both immediate effects (within two hours of taking the supplement with a meal) and longer-term changes after people have taken the supplement every day for four weeks. This two-part approach helps them get a complete picture of how the supplement might work over different timeframes.

Key takeaways

This study explores if haskap berry supplements can boost brain health in people over 50.
It examines both immediate and longer-term effects over a four-week period.
Participants will have brain function tests, blood sugar checks, and blood vessel assessments.
The study compares pure haskap, enhanced haskap, and a dummy supplement (placebo).
It aims to find natural ways to support healthy ageing.
You'll need to follow specific dietary instructions before test days.

Who may be eligible?

The study is looking for healthy adults who are 50 years old or older. You should usually eat four or fewer portions of fruit and vegetables each day. You also need to be able to speak and understand English well, and have good enough eyesight and hearing to complete the tasks.

There are certain health conditions and circumstances that would mean you can't take part. These include having certain mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, or learning differences like ADHD or dyslexia. It's also not suitable if you have any food allergies or intolerances.

People with certain long-term health problems like severe diabetes or heart disease, or those taking specific medications (like blood thinners or certain dietary supplements), cannot participate. If you've had antibiotics recently, or if you follow a vegan, vegetarian, or other special diet that could affect the results, you also wouldn't be able to join. Your doctor can help you understand if these apply to you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 50 years old or older?
Do you normally eat four or fewer servings of fruit and vegetables per day?
Are you able to speak and understand English, and have good enough sight and hearing for tasks?
Do you have a healthy weight for your age?
Do you NOT have serious heart conditions, diabetes, or learning differences like ADHD/dyslexia?
Are you NOT taking blood thinners or specific medications that might affect study results?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll first have a screening visit to check if the study is right for you. After that, there will be two main testing visits, which will be four weeks apart.

For 24 hours before each of these main test visits, you'll need to follow a special diet low in certain plant compounds. On the evening before a test visit, you must not eat or drink anything (except water) after 8:30 pm. Then, on the morning of each test visit, you can only have one slice of buttered white toast and a glass of water before you arrive.

During the test visits, you'll take the study supplement as part of a meal. You will complete several tests that look at your memory, thinking skills, and mood. These tests will be done when you arrive, then again two hours after you've had the supplement. You'll also have a simple finger-prick blood test to check your blood sugar, and a non-invasive test (called FMD) to check the health of your blood vessels. For four weeks between the two main test visits, you'll take the study supplement every day as part of your usual diet. The total duration of your active participation in the study, including the daily supplement use, will be four weeks, plus the initial screening and final assessments.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may or may not directly benefit your health. However, the information gathered could help us understand more about how haskap berries affect health as people get older. This research might lead to new ways to support brain and overall health in the future. As with any study, there's always a small chance of unexpected side effects from the supplements, or minor discomfort from blood tests. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Nutrition, Cognition & Health Lab, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading
Verified postcode
Reading, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What exactly is a haskap berry?

Haskap berries are a fruit, sometimes called honeyberries, known for being rich in healthy plant compounds. This study is trying to see if they can help improve health.

What does 'cognition' mean?

Cognition refers to your brain's ability to think, remember, learn, solve problems, and pay attention. This study looks at different aspects of your brain function.

What is a 'placebo'?

A placebo is a 'dummy' supplement that looks just like the real one but doesn't have any active ingredients. It helps researchers compare if the real supplement causes any effects.

Do I have to change my diet during the study?

You'll need to follow a special low-polyphenol diet for 24 hours before each of the two main test visits, and have a simple breakfast on those mornings. Otherwise, you'll add the supplement to your usual diet.

Will I know if I'm taking the real supplement or the placebo?

Neither you nor the researchers will know which supplement you are taking until the study is finished. This helps make the study results as fair and unbiased as possible.

How to find out more

Lynne Bell

l.bell@reading.ac.uk 01189788313 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.