Cereboost (American ginseng) for short-term brain function in young adults

A Double Blind Randomised Clinical Study to Evaluate Attention Improvement in an Adult Population After Cereboost Intake

This will test whether a single 200 mg dose of Cereboost (Panax quinquefolius) improves attention and memory over six hours in healthy adults aged 18–40.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of East Anglia (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Norwich, Norfolk and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07255755 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Healthy volunteers receive a single 200 mg dose of a standardized American ginseng extract (Cereboost) or a matched placebo and complete a battery of cognitive tests and questionnaires at set intervals across a six-hour session. Blood samples are taken to measure physiological responses to the product alongside the cognitive measures. Participants are screened for low mood/anxiety/stress and must follow an overnight fast and a low-polyphenol diet before testing. The protocol focuses on immediate, short-term cognitive effects in a controlled, in-person setting.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy adults aged 18–40 who are non-smokers, not pregnant or breastfeeding, able to fast and follow a low-polyphenol diet, and who meet the study's low depression/anxiety/stress thresholds are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People outside the 18–40 age range, those with significant mood disorders, current smokers or vapers, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those with chronic cognitive impairment are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, Cereboost could provide a safe, non-prescription option for short-term improvements in attention and memory for healthy young adults.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier acute trials of Cereboost have reported short-term improvements in immediate word recall, working memory, reaction time, and subjective calmness after single doses, so this study builds on prior positive but limited evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for inclusion, the Participant must fulfil all the following criteria:

1. Be able to give written informed consent.
2. Be between 18-40 years, inclusive.
3. Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale scores (DASS-21):

   1. Depression ≤9
   2. Anxiety ≤7
   3. Stress ≤14
4. Willing to refrain from alcohol consumption 24-hours prior to assessment visits.
5. Willing to refrain from caffeine consumption (including but not limited to energy drinks, soda, coffee…) on the morning of the assessment visit.
6. Non-smokers and non-vapers
7. Willing to consume the Study Product (SP).
8. Willing to attend the study visit in an overnight fasted state, having followed a low-polyphenol diet for 48 h.
9. Fluent in written and spoken English

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants will be excluded from the study if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Participants who are pregnant or wish to become pregnant during the study or who are lactating and/or currently breastfeeding.
2. Has food allergies or other issues with foods that would preclude intake of the Study Products.
3. Not willing to consume gelatine from bovine/porcine source
4. Has a BMI ≤18.5 or ≥30kg/m2
5. Blood pressure \>140/90 mmHg
6. Has any significant acute or chronic coexisting health conditions that would prevent them from fulfilling the study requirements, put the participant at risk or would confound the interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator on the basis of medical history and routine laboratory test results.
7. Excluded health conditions include:

   1. Cognitive disorders in the past 12 months.
   2. Current or past history of a major neuropsychiatric disorder, including: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder
   3. Current or past history of a major neurological condition.
   4. Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. IBS/IBD)
   5. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
   6. Learning disabilities and difficulties
   7. Current, uncorrected, vision or hearing impairment
8. Current or recent use of a medication that the investigator believes would interfere with the objectives of the study or pose a safety risk or confound the interpretation of the study results. Prohibited medications include:

   1. Anti-psychotics
   2. Anti-coagulants (including Warfarin)
   3. Anti-platelets (including Aspirin and Clopidogrel)
   4. Sedatives
   5. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
9. Taking any dietary supplements and unwilling to stop for two weeks prior to and for the duration of participation in the study
10. Current or history of drug or alcohol abuse
11. Current or history of: HIV, kidney disease, liver or biliary disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease (chronic respiratory trouble)
12. Planned surgery within 2 weeks of their participation in the study
13. Do not agree to the GP being contacted about participation and screening results
14. Participated in any other cognitive trials within the last month

Where this trial is running

Norwich, Norfolk and 1 other locations

• Quadram Insitute Clinical Research Facility — Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
• University of East Anglia — Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: David Vauzour, PhD — University of East Anglia
• Study coordinator: David Vauzour, PhD

Conditions Attention; Cognition; American Ginseng; Cereboost