Flavonoid-rich orange juice is associated with acute improvements in cognitive function in healthy middle-aged males

Abstract

Purpose: Epidemiological evidence suggests that chronic consumption of fruit-based flavonoids is associated with cognitive benefits; however, the acute effects of flavonoid-rich (FR) drinks on cognitive function in the immediate postprandial period require examination. The objective was to investigate whether consumption of FR orange juice is associated with acute cognitive benefits over 6 h in healthy middle-aged adults.

Methods: Males aged 30-65 consumed a 240-ml FR orange juice (272 mg) and a calorie-matched placebo in a randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced order on 2 days separated by a 2-week washout. Cognitive function and subjective mood were assessed at baseline (prior to drink consumption) and 2 and 6 h post consumption. The cognitive battery included eight individual cognitive tests. A standardized breakfast was consumed prior to the baseline measures, and a standardized lunch was consumed 3 h post-drink consumption.

Results: Change from baseline analysis revealed that performance on tests of executive function and psychomotor speed was significantly better following the FR drink compared to the placebo. The effects of objective cognitive function were supported by significant benefits for subjective alertness following the FR drink relative to the placebo.

Conclusions: These data demonstrate that consumption of FR orange juice can acutely enhance objective and subjective cognition over the course of 6 h in healthy middle-aged adults.

Keywords: Cognition; Cognitive function; Flavanones; Flavonoids; Orange juice.

Fig. 1

Simple Finger Tapping performance was significantly better following the FR drink relative to the placebo as indicated by a main effect of drink (F[1, 20] = 8.32, p < 0.01). The change from baseline was significantly higher following the FR drink relative to the placebo at 2 h post consumption and 6 h post consumption. There was no significant difference in baseline performance between the drinks

Fig. 2

Considering all tests combined, the main effect of drink approached significance (F[1,21] = 2.98, p = 0.09). At 6 h post consumption, the change from baseline was positive following the FR drink (indicating improvement in global performance), whereas the change from baseline was negative following the placebo (indicating a decline in global performance). The planned contrasts were not performed in light of the nonsignificant ANOVA model. There was no significant difference in baseline performance between the drinks

Fig. 3

Ratings of subjective alertness using the PANAS were significantly higher following the FR drink relative to the placebo as indicated by a main effect of drink (F[1,21] = 4.1, p = 0.05). The change from baseline was significantly higher following the FR drink relative to the placebo when averaged across the time points