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Cognitive effects following acute wild blueberry supplementation in 7 – 10 year old children

Whyte, A. R., Schafer, G. and Williams, C. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4452-671X (2016) Cognitive effects following acute wild blueberry supplementation in 7 – 10 year old children. European Journal of Nutrition, 55 (6). pp. 2151-2162. ISSN 1436-6215

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-1029-4

Abstract/Summary

Purpose: Previously, anthocyanin-rich blueberry treatments have shown positive effects on cognition in both animals and human adults. However, little research has considered whether these benefits transfer to children. Here we describe an acute time-course and dose–response investigation considering whether these cognitive benefits extend to children. Methods: Using a double-blind cross-over design, on three occasions children (n = 21; 7–10 years) consumed placebo (vehicle) or blueberry drinks containing 15 or 30 g freeze-dried wild blueberry (WBB) powder. A cognitive battery including tests of verbal memory, word recognition, response interference, response inhibition and levels of processing was performed at baseline, and 1.15, 3 and 6 h following treatment. Results: Significant WBB-related improvements included final immediate recall at 1.15 h, delayed word recognition sustained over each period, and accuracy on cognitively demanding incongruent trials in the interference task at 3h. Importantly, across all measures, cognitive performance improved, consistent with a dose–response model, with the best performance following 30 g WBB and the worst following vehicle. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate WBB-related cognitive improvements in 7- to 10-year-old children. These effects would seem to be particularly sensitive to the cognitive demand of task.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology
Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Development
Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Language and Cognition
Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Nutrition and Health
ID Code:47835
Uncontrolled Keywords:Flavonoid, Children, Anthocyanin, Cognition, Memory, Executive Function
Publisher:Springer

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