Daily cranberry juice to boost stress resilience during multitasking
Cranberry Polyphenols and Human Stress Resilience: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Integrating Cognitive, Physiological, and Microbiome Adaptations Underlying Nutritional Neuroprotection and Multitasking Performance in Healthy Adults.
This will test whether 70 days of daily cranberry juice helps healthy adults aged 30–55 stay calmer and perform better on thinking and motor tasks when multitasking.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 84 (estimated) |
| Ages | 30 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Florida Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Gainesville, Florida) |
| Trial ID | NCT07453537 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 13-week trial where participants are assigned to drink either cranberry juice or a placebo daily. After a run-in period and eligibility checks, participants complete three in-person visits (consent, baseline, final) with cognitive-motor multitasking challenges and stress measurements. The study measures psychological and physiological stress responses, motor accuracy, cognitive performance, circulating stress biomarkers, and gut microbiome changes. Researchers will compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes between groups to see if chronic cranberry intake improves multitasking performance and stress resilience.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy adults aged 30–55 with BMI 18.9–29.9 kg/m², at least a high-school education, willing to avoid cranberry products and certain supplements, and able to follow study dietary and visit requirements are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with uncontrolled medical conditions, long-term smoking history, heavy caffeine or alcohol use, current cannabis use, or who take excluded medications or supplements are unlikely to qualify or receive benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, regular cranberry juice could modestly reduce multitasking-related stress and improve cognitive and motor performance in healthy mid-life adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small studies of polyphenol-rich foods have reported modest cognitive or vascular benefits and changes in stress markers, but cranberry-specific, long-duration trials linking cognition and the gut microbiome remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 110 pounds * Between 30 and 55 years * BMI between 18.9 and 29.9 kg/m² * A minimum education level of high school or above Exclusion Criteria: * Heavy caffeine users (consuming more than 300 mg/day or more than two cups of coffee per day) * Alcohol consumption exceeding three drinks per week * A smoking history of 10 years or more, or current use of cannabis products * Uncontrolled hypertension * Clinically diagnosed illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, or mental health conditions * Participants currently taking prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, or antidepressants that may affect study outcomes, particularly those related to blood and fecal sample analysis * Individuals who regularly take vitamin or mineral supplements and are unwilling to discontinue them for the duration of the study will not qualify. * Participants must be willing to maintain their current daily routine and lifestyle, undergo body weight and height measurements, and notify study coordinators of any illnesses or significant adverse life events during the study period * Those with specific dietary restrictions that prevent them from consuming the standardized breakfast sandwich required in the study protocol * Participants must successfully complete the on-site multitasking task as a screening measure prior to signing consent. * Beck's Depression Inventory score of 21 or higher * Beck's Anxiety Inventory score of 21 or higher * A history of severe suicidal tendencies, or seasonal depression * Pregnancy and breastfeeding (Female participants must complete four pregnancy tests throughout the study and track their menstrual cycle. Those unwilling to comply with these requirements will not be eligible.) * Potential participants must not have taken any anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, or antidepressants within the past three months prior to the start of the study * Individuals who were previously enrolled in IRB#202300950 will be excluded due to the learning effect of cognitive tests, ensuring accurate data collection for this study
Where this trial is running
Gainesville, Florida
- University of Florida — Gainesville, Florida, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lewei Gu, PhD — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Maya E Waintraub, M.S.
- Email: mwaintraub@ufl.edu
- Phone: 847-246-2255
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.