Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Exploring the Cognitive Benefits of a Blackcurrant-Based Supplement in Normobaric Hypoxia

This study aims to discover if a special blackcurrant drink can help healthy young men think better when they are in conditions similar to high altitudes. When people are at high altitudes, the reduced oxygen can make it harder to concentrate, remember things, and make quick decisions. Participants will visit a lab, where they will be given either the blackcurrant drink or a taste-matched dummy drink. They will then spend time in a room that simulates being at 4,500 metres above sea level, and complete different mental tasks and tests. Researchers will also check their heart rate, oxygen levels, and take blood samples. The goal is to see if this drink can protect brain function when oxygen levels are lower.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Leeds Beckett University

Enrolment target

Start

01 Sep 2025

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2027

Cognitive Performance Executive Function (Cognition)Working Memory Hypoxia Induced Cognitive Impairment Mood

What is this study about?

When you go to high altitudes, like when you're hiking or on holiday in the mountains, the air has less oxygen. This can make some people feel tired, dizzy, and can even make it harder to think clearly and quickly. Your brain needs oxygen to work at its best, and when there's less oxygen, your mental performance can dip.

This study is looking into whether a specific drink, made from blackcurrants, could help protect your brain and keep your mind sharp in these lower-oxygen environments. This blackcurrant drink is considered a 'nootropic,' which means it might have a positive effect on brain function, like memory, focus, and creativity.

The researchers want to see if this blackcurrant drink can reduce the impact of low oxygen on your thinking skills. They will compare it to a 'placebo' – a dummy drink that looks and tastes the same but doesn't have the active ingredients. This helps them know for sure if any effects seen are due to the blackcurrant drink itself, rather than just the idea of taking something helpful.

Key takeaways

The study investigates a blackcurrant drink's effect on thinking in low oxygen.
It involves healthy men aged 18-35 attending a lab.
Participants will experience simulated high-altitude conditions.
Thinking tests, physical checks, and blood samples will be taken.
The aim is to see if the drink helps maintain mental sharpness.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for healthy men between the ages of 18 and 35. You need to be living at a low altitude (less than 500 metres above sea level) to take part.

There are several reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have any serious health conditions like heart problems, breathing difficulties, diabetes, or certain brain-related illnesses, you won't be eligible. Also, if you have allergies to blackcurrants, pine, or tea-derived ingredients, you can't take part.

If you're currently taking medications or herbal supplements that are known to affect your thinking or concentration, or if you have certain blood conditions like sickle cell trait, you won't be able to join this study. You also need to be able to attend all study visits and be willing to provide blood samples.

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 a male between 18 and 35 years old?
Do you live at a low altitude (not in the mountains)?
Do you have any serious ongoing medical conditions?
Are you allergic to blackcurrants or ingredients found in pine or tea?
Are you willing to provide blood samples and attend all four visits?
Are you currently taking any medications or supplements that affect your thinking?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll need to visit the lab four times over a period of about two to three weeks. The first two visits are for checking if you're suitable for the study and to get you familiar with the tests you'll be doing, so you know what to expect.

For the two main study visits, you'll be given a drink – either the blackcurrant drink or a dummy drink – and then spend about three hours in a special room. This room will simulate being at a high altitude of 4,500 metres, meaning there will be less oxygen in the air. During this time, you'll complete a series of thinking tests, which will take about 80 minutes. Researchers will also monitor your heart rate and oxygen levels, and you'll provide blood samples.

You'll also complete questionnaires about your mood, how you're feeling, and any effects you notice. The total time for each main study visit will be a few hours, but the commitment is spread over approximately 2-3 weeks in total.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer you the benefit of better understanding how your body and mind respond to low oxygen conditions and how certain drinks might affect cognitive function. You would also be contributing to medical research. As with any study, there could be some minor risks, such as discomfort from blood samples or spending time in a low-oxygen environment (though this is carefully controlled). You might also experience some fatigue from the mental tests. Remember, you can choose 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.

Leeds Beckett University
Verified postcode
Leeds, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'simulated high altitude'?

It means you'll be in a special room where the air has less oxygen, just like it would at 4,500 metres above sea level, but you won't actually be up a mountain.

What kind of 'thinking tests' will I do?

These are computer-based tasks that measure things like your memory, attention, reaction time, and how quickly you can solve problems.

Will I know if I'm getting the blackcurrant drink or the dummy drink?

No, both you and the researchers won't know which drink you're taking during the study. This helps ensure the results are unbiased.

Why only men?

Sometimes studies focus on one gender first to simplify the research and get clearer results, before expanding to include others in later studies.

What are 'biomarkers'?

These are substances in your blood that researchers measure to see how your body is responding to the drink and the low-oxygen conditions.

How to find out more

Isobel R Harris

i.harris@leedsbeckett.ac.uk +44 7443518358 Official trial record

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