The recent study published in the journal Nutrients found that supplementation with whole-fruit strawberry powder had a positive impact on memory and mood in middle-aged, overweight subjects. The study involved 30 participants who were randomized to receive either the strawberry powder or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The strawberry powder contained 13 g of powder, providing 36.8 mg anthocyanins derived from 130 g of whole fruit. The primary outcomes of the study were cognitive and mood measures. Various tests were used to assess executive function, lexical access, learning and long-term memory, and depressive symptoms. While there were no significant differences between the strawberry and placebo groups in most cognitive measures, the strawberry group did show a reduction in interference during verbal learning and memory tasks. They also exhibited lower mood disturbance compared to the placebo group. Interestingly, the study did not observe any changes in metabolic parameters, suggesting that the effects of the strawberry powder may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory actions. The researchers believe that inflammation may be a contributing factor to conditions such as overweight/obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, which are also associated with an increased risk of dementia. Researchers, led by Dr. Robert Krikorian of the University of Cincinnati, discovered that the potential cognitive benefits of strawberries may be linked to anti-inflammatory actions rather than metabolic changes. Working with a middle-aged, overweight population, they aimed to address dementia, a condition believed to develop over decades. Chris Christian from the California Strawberry Commission expressed excitement, citing existing studies linking strawberries and pelargonidin to reduced Alzheimer’s risk. Long-term observational studies also associated strawberry consumption with lower cognitive decline rates.
Source: https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/recent-study-finds-that-supplementation-with-strawberry-powder-may-support-cognitive-health-and-mood
