Research paper
A biphasic response to blueberry supplementation on depressive symptoms in emerging adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial
Study answer
What this study found
Blueberry supplementation showed a biphasic pattern: a single dose acutely improved positive affect at 2 hours and several executive function outcomes, but 6 weeks of daily supplementation did not improve depression, anxiety, stress, executive function, or serum biomarkers versus placebo. In the acute phase, positive affect improved versus placebo (p = 0.026), switch-trial accuracy improved (p = 0.025), and switch-trial reaction time was faster (p = 0.033); acute changes in positive affect correlated with executive function change in the blueberry group (r = 0.424, p = 0.017). After 6 weeks,…
- Study & population
- Double-blind randomized controlled trial in emerging adults with self-reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms recruited from the University of Reading student community in the United Kingdom.
- Intervention
- Wild lowbush blueberry supplementation was delivered orally as a beverage made with 22 g freeze-dried Vaccinium angustifolium powder mixed with 250 ml water.
- Key limitation
- The trial was small and limited to emerging adults from a single university community, which reduces generalizability.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the acute and chronic effects of wild blueberry supplementation on mood, executive function, and serum biomarkers of neuroplasticity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in emerging adults with moderate-to-s…