A small 12-week study involving supplementation with strawberry powder demonstrated the potential positive effects strawberries may have on cognitive health.
The placebo-controlled trial was a double-blind study involving 30 participants between the ages of 50 and 65 who had BMIs of at least 25 and were aware of mild cognitive decline. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center.
One group of participants was given a one cup serving of strawberry powder that contained whole fruit that had been dehydrated, freeze-dried and milled. The serving contained 36.8 milligrams of anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and have been found to help with overall brain health.
The control group received a fiber powder that had the same calories and looked and tasted the same as the strawberry powder but did not contain any fruit. Both groups were instructed to take one packet a day and to avoid drinking or eating any berry juices, extracts or fruits during the study period.
The results of the 12-week study demonstrated that those who received the strawberry powder communicated that they had fewer symptoms of depression and they also had better performance on a word list learning test than the control group did. Researchers believe that the anthocyanins helped reduce neuroinflammation. Researchers emphasize that the study was limited in its scope due to its size but believe the findings demonstrate a need for additional investigation into the potential benefits of strawberries.
