Tart Cherry Juice for Insomnia

(CherryZZZ Trial)

Overseen By Courtney Millar, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Courtney Millar

Must not be taking: Sleep aids

Disqualifiers: Sleep apnea, Dementia, Diabetes, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether tart cherry juice can improve sleep patterns in older adults with sleep difficulties. Participants will consume tart cherry juice and a placebo juice during separate four-week periods while a digital device monitors their sleep. Researchers will collect blood and urine samples to check for changes in biological markers that may affect sleep. Individuals who frequently experience insomnia (trouble sleeping at least three nights a week for six months) and typically go to bed between 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. may qualify. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to research that could enhance sleep health for many.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are currently and consistently using sleep aids or hypnotic prescriptions, or if your medications have changed in the last 3 months.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that tart cherry juice is generally safe for short-term use. Some studies found it can improve sleep in older adults without major side effects. The most common minor issue reported is diarrhea. However, limited safety information exists on concentrated forms like extracts. Tart cherry juice contains much less melatonin than typical melatonin supplements, so using them together is unlikely to cause problems. Overall, tart cherry juice is considered a safe option for many people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Tart Cherry Juice is unique because it offers a natural alternative for managing insomnia. Unlike standard treatments, which often involve prescription medications like benzodiazepines or non-benzodiazepine sleep aids, tart cherry juice contains melatonin and proanthocyanidins. These compounds may help regulate sleep cycles and reduce inflammation without the side effects associated with pharmaceuticals. Researchers are excited about its potential to provide a safe, holistic option for better sleep.

What evidence suggests that tart cherry juice might be an effective treatment for insomnia?

Research shows that tart cherry juice, which participants in this trial may receive, can help improve sleep. Studies have found that people who drank tart cherry juice slept longer and experienced better sleep quality, spending more time actually sleeping while in bed. One study discovered that cherry juice increased sleep time and improved sleep quality. This effect might occur because the juice contains substances that reduce inflammation and boost tryptophan, which helps produce serotonin, a chemical that promotes sleep. Overall, several studies have linked tart cherry juice to better sleep, making it a promising option for those with sleep issues. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Courtney Millar, PhD

Principal Investigator

Hebrew SeniorLife, Marcus Institute of Aging, Harvard Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This study is for older adults who have trouble sleeping, specifically those with insomnia. Participants will be asked to drink tart cherry juice and a placebo, wear a sleep monitor for 12 weeks, and provide blood and urine samples.

Inclusion Criteria

Usual bed-time between 8:00 pm and 1:00 am

I have trouble sleeping at least 3 nights a week for 6 months or more.

I am 65 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a sleep disorder diagnosed by a doctor, but it's not insomnia.

Current alcohol use disorder (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test ≥4 points) or drug use disorder (Drug Abuse Screening Test, DAST-10 > 2 points)

Any other reason/condition the PI and investigative team believe this intervention would be unsafe

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume tart cherry juice or placebo juice for 4 weeks each, wearing a digital monitor to measure sleep

8 weeks

Weekly visits for sample collection and monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Final visit at week 12 for comprehensive assessment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Placebo juice
• Tart Cherry Juice

Trial Overview

The trial is testing whether drinking tart cherry juice improves sleep in older adults with insomnia compared to a placebo. It involves monitoring sleep patterns over 12 weeks and analyzing biological markers from blood and urine samples.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Tart Cherry Juice Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Placebo Juice Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Courtney Millar

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

20+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a 12-week randomized-controlled trial with 37 older adults, tart cherry juice significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, indicating potential cardiovascular benefits.

While tart cherry juice improved certain lipid profiles, it also led to increases in glucose, triglycerides, and body mass index (BMI), suggesting that further research is needed to fully understand its effects on cardiovascular health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of tart cherry juice on systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. [2018]

Intake of Jerte Valley cherries positively influenced sleep patterns and increased levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in middle-aged and elderly participants, suggesting a potential benefit for sleep regulation.

The consumption of these cherries also enhanced urinary total antioxidant capacity, indicating their antioxidant properties may help combat oxidative stress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Jerte Valley cherry-enriched diets improve nocturnal rest and increase 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and total antioxidant capacity in the urine of middle-aged and elderly humans. Garrido, M., Paredes, SD., Cubero, J., et al.[2013]

The study found that Night Time Recharge (NTR), a sleep aid containing cherry extract, significantly increased urinary levels of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SMT), suggesting enhanced melatonin synthesis, but no melatonin was detected in the supplement itself.

While NTR did not significantly improve overall sleep quality, it did reduce sleep latency, indicating that the tryptophan content in the supplement may play a role in helping individuals fall asleep faster.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of a sleep/recovery supplement: 'Night Time Recharge' on sleep parameters in young adults. Simper, T., Gilmartin, M., Allwood, D., et al.[2022]

A pilot study involving 15 older adults with chronic insomnia found that a proprietary tart cherry juice blend (CherryPharm) led to significant improvements in sleep continuity and reductions in insomnia severity compared to a placebo.

While the tart cherry juice showed modest benefits for sleep, its effects were less pronounced than those of established insomnia treatments like hypnotic medications and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a tart cherry juice beverage on the sleep of older adults with insomnia: a pilot study. Pigeon, WR., Carr, M., Gorman, C., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 8 older adults with insomnia, Montmorency tart cherry juice significantly increased sleep time by 84 minutes and improved sleep efficiency, as confirmed by polysomnography.

The mechanism behind these improvements may involve cherry juice procyanidin B-2, which inhibited the enzyme IDO, leading to increased tryptophan availability and reduced inflammation, suggesting a potential natural treatment for insomnia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot Study of the Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms. Losso, JN., Finley, JW., Karki, N., et al.[2022]

In a study of 44 participants taking Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) supplements for 30 days, there were no significant improvements in sleep quality or blood pressure, despite both sleep time and quality increasing over the period.

However, participants taking MTC capsules experienced a significant reduction in body mass after 14 days compared to baseline, suggesting a potential benefit of MTC on body weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Montmorency tart cherry supplementation does not impact sleep, body composition, cellular health, or blood pressure in healthy adults. Hillman, AR., Trickett, O., Brodsky, C., et al.[2022]

Citations

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The Effect of Tart Cherry on Sleep Quality and Sleep Disorders

A study showed that 30 mL of tart cherry juice supplementation for 7 days increased bedtime, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and disturbed ...

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5617749/

Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment ...

Cherry juice increased sleep time and sleep efficiency. Cherry juice procyanidin B-2 inhibited IDO, increased tryptophan availability, reduced inflammation.

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Too Sour to be True? Tart Cherries (Prunus cerasus) and ...

Whilst individuals may not subjectively experience a benefit, there is evidence to support significant improvements to total sleep time and ...

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onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/fsn3.70923

The Effect of Tart Cherry on Sleep Quality and ...

Three studies reported significant improvements in sleep indicators such as sleep duration, sleep efficiency, or sleep onset time. Three studies ...

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Tart Cherry - Uses, Side Effects, and More

Tart cherry fruit extract or powder is possibly safe when taken short-term. Some people might have diarrhea after taking tart cherry products. There isn't ...

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Tart Cherry Juice benefits, dosage, and side effects

However, no safety data exists on taking supplemental forms such as concentrates and extracts. Furthermore, there is some evidence that phytochemicals make ...

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3133468/

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Tart cherry juice modestly improved sleep in older adults with insomnia, reducing insomnia severity and wake after sleep onset compared to placebo.

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sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/tart-cherry-juice

Does Tart Cherry Juice Help You Sleep?

Tart cherry juice has significantly less melatonin than you'd find in a melatonin capsule, so taking them together shouldn't put you at risk for ...