Montmorency tart cherry supplementation does not impact sleep, body composition, cellular health, or blood pressure in healthy adults
Abstract
Background: Sleep disturbances are linked with cardiovascular and metabolic disease as well as poor body composition. Aim: To investigate the use of tart cherry supplements, which are high in antioxidants and may contain melatonin, on parameters of health such as sleep, body composition, cellular health, and blood pressure (BP). Methods: Forty-four participants had completed sleep record data and were included in this analysis. Participants consumed either two 240 ml bottles per day of Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) juice or placebo or two capsules per day of powdered MTC or placebo for 30 days. Participants tracked their sleep daily via questionnaire and completed body composition and BP assessments at baseline, 14 days, and 30 days after supplementation. Results: There were no significant differences in sleep time or quality between groups, though both increased over 30 days. The capsule groups had significantly lower body mass (BM) 14 days versus baseline for placebo group (p = 0.01, mean difference: 0.70 kg) and at 30 days versus 14 days in MTC group (p = 0.02, mean difference: 0.75 kg). No other differences in body composition or cellular health were found. BP was unaffected by MTC supplementation over 30 days. Despite the potential benefits of antioxidants and melatonin, we did not find improvements in sleep time or quality, cellular health or BP in participants consuming MTC for 30 days, though BM decreased in capsule groups. Conclusion: These results conflict with previous data on MTC and sleep and BP, therefore further investigation is warranted.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Montmorency tart cherry juice or supplement for thirty days did not affect serum melatonin or sleep time or quality compared with placebo in healthy adults.
“A recent study [219] in healthy adults found that Montmorency tart cherries as either juice (2 × 240 mL per day) or as a supplement (two capsules containing 500 mg freeze-dried tart cherry powder) for thirty days did not affect serum melatonin (although it was measured in the morning when levels tend to be low), or sleep time or quality compared with placebo.”
From Is Melatonin the “Next Vitamin D”?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements (2022) · cites this paper as [219]
Cites
Bioelectrical impedance analysis—part II: utilization in clinical practice
Kyle, U. G., Bosaeus, I., De Lorenzo, A. D., Deurenberg, P., Elia, M., Manuel Gómez, J., Lilienthal Heitmann, B., Kent-Smith, L., Melchior, J.-C., Pirlich, M., et al. (2004) · Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2004.09.012 · Cited by 2,350 · see citing works
Sleep Patterns and Predictors of Disturbed Sleep in a Large Population of College Students
Lund, H. G., Reider, B. D., Whiting, A. B., & Prichard, J. R. (2010) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.016 · Cited by 1,907 · see citing works
Norman, K., Stobäus, N., Pirlich, M., & Bosy-Westphal, A. (2012) · Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2012.05.008 · Cited by 1,049 · see citing works
Tsuda, T., Horio, F., Uchida, K., Aoki, H., & Osawa, T. (2003) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/133.7.2125 · Cited by 819 · see citing works
Bioelectrical impedance analysis: population reference values for phase angle by age and sex
González, M. C., Barros, A. J. D., Wang, J., Heymsfield, S. B., & Pierson, R. N. (2005) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/82.1.49 · Cited by 727 · see citing works
Bosy‐Westphal, A., Danielzik, S., Dörhöfer, R., Later, W., Wiese, S., & Müller, M. J. (2006) · Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition · doi:10.1177/0148607106030004309 · Cited by 597 · see citing works
Meta-Analysis: Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary Sleep Disorders
Ferracioli-Oda, E., Qawasmi, A., & Bloch, M. H. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063773 · Cited by 493 · see citing works
Selberg, O., & Selberg, D. (2002) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-001-0570-4 · Cited by 476 · see citing works
Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders
Auld, F., Maschauer, E. L., Morrison, I., Skene, D. J., & Riha, R. L. (2016) · Sleep Medicine Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.005 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
Phase angle and its determinants in healthy subjects: influence of body composition
González, M. C., Barbosa-Silva, T. G., Bielemann, R. M., Gallagher, D., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2016) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.115.116772 · Cited by 328 · see citing works
Erland, L. A. E., & Saxena, P. K. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine · doi:10.5664/jcsm.6462 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) -derived phase angle in sarcopenia: A systematic review
Vincenzo, O. D., Marra, M., Gregorio, A. D., Pasanisi, F., & Scalfi, L. (2020) · Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2020.10.048 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Burkhardt, S., Tan, D. X., Manchester, L. C., Hardeland, R., & Reiter, R. J. (2001) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/jf010321+ · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Effect of tart cherry juice (Prunus Cerasus) on melatonin levels and enhanced sleep quality
Howatson, G., Bell, P. G., Tallent, J., Middleton, B., McHugh, M. P., & Ellis, J. (2012) · European Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1007/s00394-011-0263-7 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Chemical profile and antioxidant capacities of tart cherry products
Kirakosyan, A., Seymour, E., Urcuyo-Llanes, D. E., Kaufman, P. B., & Bolling, S. F. (2008) · Food Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.11.042 · Cited by 212 · see citing works
Gholami, F., Sajjad, M., Rasaei, N., Soveid, N., Setayesh, L., & Mirzaei, K. (2021) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-020-10381-w · Cited by 182 · see citing works
The effects of coffee consumption on sleep and melatonin secretion
Shilo, L., Sabbah, H., Hadari, R., Kovatz, S., Weinberg, U., Dolev, S., Dagan, Y., & Shenkman, L. (2002) · Sleep Medicine · doi:10.1016/s1389-9457(02)00015-1 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Effects of a tart cherry juice beverage on the sleep of older adults with insomnia: A pilot study
Pigeon, W. R., Carr, M., Gorman, C., & Perlis, M. L. (2010) · Journal of Medicinal Food · doi:10.1089/jmf.2009.0096 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Seymour, E., Lewis, S. K., Urcuyo-Llanes, D. E., Tanone, I. I., Kirakosyan, A., Kaufman, P. B., & Bolling, S. F. (2009) · Journal of Medicinal Food · doi:10.1089/jmf.2008.0270 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Bioelectrical impedance phase angle in sport: a systematic review
Vincenzo, O. D., Marra, M., & Scalfi, L. (2019) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0319-2 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Mundstock, E., Amaral, M. A., Baptista, R. R., Sarria, E. E., dos Santos, R. R. G., Filho, A. D., Rodrigues, C. A. S., Forte, G. C., Castro, L., Padoin, A. V., et al. (2018) · Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.08.031 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Levers, K., Dalton, R., Galvan, E., O’Connor, A., Goodenough, C., Simbo, S., Mertens-Talcott, S. U., Rasmussen, C., Greenwood, M., Riechman, S., et al. (2016) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s12970-016-0133-z · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Levers, K. S., Dalton, R., Galvan, E., Goodenough, C. G., O’Connor, A., Simbo, S. Y., Barringer, N., Mertens‐Talcott, S. U., Rasmussen, C. J., Greenwood, M., et al. (2015) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0102-y · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Keane, K. M., George, T. W., Constantinou, C. L., Brown, M. A., Clifford, T., & Howatson, G. (2016) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.115.123869 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Effects of Tart Cherry Juice on Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Older Adults
Chai, S. C., Davis, K., Zhang, Z., Zha, L., & Kirschner, K. F. (2019) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu11020228 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Trends in Use of Melatonin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2018
Li, J., Somers, V. K., Xu, H., Lopez-Jimenez, F., & Covassin, N. (2022) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23652 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Lynn, A., Mathew, S. S., Moore, C. T., Russell, J., Robinson, E., Soumpasi, V., & Barker, M. E. (2014) · Plant Foods for Human Nutrition · doi:10.1007/s11130-014-0409-x · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Exploring the potential role of phase angle as a marker of oxidative stress: A narrative review
da Silva, B. R., González, M. C., Cereda, E., & Prado, C. M. M. (2021) · Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111493 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Pilot Study of the Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms
Losso, J. N., Finley, J. W., Karki, N., Liu, A. G., Prudente, A. D., Tipton, R., Yu, Y., & Greenway, F. L. (2017) · American Journal of Therapeutics · doi:10.1097/mjt.0000000000000584 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Mediterranean Diet and Phase Angle in a Sample of Adult Population: Results of a Pilot Study
Barrea, L., Muscogiuri, G., Macchia, P. E., Somma, C. D., Falco, A., Savanelli, M. C., Colao, A., & Savastano, S. (2017) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu9020151 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Costello, J. T., Rendell, R. A., Furber, M., Massey, H. C., Tipton, M., Young, J. S., & Corbett, J. (2018) · Cytokine · doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2018.01.018 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Chai, S. C., Davis, K., Wright, R. S., Kuczmarski, M. F., & Zhang, Z. (2018) · Food & Function · doi:10.1039/c8fo00468d · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Samara, M. T., Huhn, M., Chiocchia, V., Schneider‐Thoma, J., Wiegand, M. H., Salanti, G., & Leucht, S. (2020) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.13201 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
A jerte valley cherry product provides beneficial effects on sleep quality. Influence on aging
Garrido, M., González‐Gómez, D., Lozano, M., Barriga, C., Paredes, S. D., & Moratinos, A. B. R. (2013) · The journal of nutrition health & aging · doi:10.1007/s12603-013-0029-4 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Johnson, S. A., Navaei, N., Pourafshar, S., Jaime, S. J., Akhavan, N. S., Alvarez‐Alvarado, S., Proaño, G. V., Litwin, N. S., Clark, E. A., Foley, E., et al. (2020) · Journal of Medicinal Food · doi:10.1089/jmf.2019.0240 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Keane, K. M., Haskell‐Ramsay, C. F., Veasey, R. C., & Howatson, G. (2016) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s0007114516004177 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Martin, K. R., Burrell, L., & Bopp, J. (2018) · Food & Function · doi:10.1039/c8fo01492b · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Benedetto, F. D., Pastorelli, R., Ferrario, M., de Blasio, F., Marinari, S., Brunelli, L., Wouters, E. F. �., Polverino, F., & Celli, B. R. (2018) · Respiratory Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2018.08.002 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Association between Sleep Quality and Body Composition in Sedentary Middle-Aged Adults
Jurado‐Fasoli, L., Amaro‐Gahete, F. J., De‐la‐O, A., Dote‐Montero, M., Gutiérrez, Á., & Castillo, M. J. (2018) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina54050091 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Relationship between actigraphy‐assessed sleep quality and fat mass in college students
Kahlhöfer, J., Karschin, J., Breusing, N., & Bosy‐Westphal, A. (2015) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.21326 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Desai, T., Roberts, M. G., & Bottoms, L. M. (2020) · European Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1007/s00394-020-02355-5 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Morehen, J. C., Clarke, J., Batsford, J., Barrow, S., Brown, A. D., Stewart, C. E., Morton, J. P., & Close, G. L. (2020) · European Journal of Sport Science · doi:10.1080/17461391.2020.1797181 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Nutritional Interventions to Improve Sleep in Team-Sport Athletes: A Narrative Review
Gratwicke, M., Miles, K. H., Pyne, D. B., Pumpa, K. L., & Clark, B. (2021) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu13051586 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
The Efficacy of Tart Cherry Juice in Aiding Recovery After Intermittent Exercise
Quinlan, R., & Hill, J. (2019) · International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance · doi:10.1123/ijspp.2019-0101 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
The effects of a tart cherry beverage on reducing exercise-induced muscle soreness
Beals, K., Allison, K. F., Darnell, M., Lovalekar, M. T., Baker, R., Nieman, D. C., Yoram Vodovotz, B., & Lephart, S. M. (2016) · Isokinetics and Exercise Science · doi:10.3233/ies-160645 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Cytokines and sleep: the first hundred years
Opp, M. R. (2004) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2003.12.008 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Lawrence, G. R. P., & Muza, R. (2018) · Journal of Thoracic Disease · doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.12.127 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Desai, T., Roberts, M. G., & Bottoms, L. (2019) · Journal of Functional Foods · doi:10.1016/j.jff.2019.04.005 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Hillman, A. R., Taylor, B. C. R., & Thompkins, D. M. (2016) · Journal of Functional Foods · doi:10.1016/j.jff.2016.12.026 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Self-citationU.S. Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Decreases Bone Resorption in Women Aged 65–80 Years
Dodier, T., Anderson, K. L., Bothwell, J. D., Hermann, J., Lucas, E. A., & Smith, B. J. (2021) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu13020544 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Minich, D. M., Henning, M., Darley, C., Fahoum, M., Schuler, C. B., & Frame, J. (2022) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu14193934 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
“A recent study [220] in healthy adults found that Montmorency tart cherries as either juice (2 × 240 mL per day) or as a supplement (two capsules containing 500 mg freeze-dried tart cherry powder) for thirty days did not affect serum melatonin (although it was measured in the morning when levels tend to be low), or sl…”
BackgroundHealth effects of 100% fruit and vegetable juices: evidence from human subject intervention studies
Rossi, I., Mignogna, C., Rio, D. D., & Mena, P. R. (2023) · Nutrition Research Reviews · doi:10.1017/s095442242300015x · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Borisenkov, M. F., Popov, S. V., Витальевич, С. В., Александровна, М. Е., Solovieva, S. V., Danilova, L., & Gubin, D. G. (2023) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu15153302 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
The Effect of Tart Cherry on Sleep Quality and Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review
Barforoush, F., Ebrahimi, S., Abdar, M., Khademi, S., & Morshedzadeh, N. (2025) · Food Science & Nutrition · doi:10.1002/fsn3.70923 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.): Polyphenols, bioactivity, and bioavailability beyond exercise
Jawad, M., Hillman, A. R., & Brannan, R. G. (2025) · Food Bioscience · doi:10.1016/j.fbio.2025.107612 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationOhtsuka, M., Yamaguchi, T. F., Oishi, S., Misawa, K., Suzuki, A., Hibi, M., & Terauchi, M. (2024) · Nutrition Research · doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2024.03.006 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Micek, A., Currenti, W., Mignogna, C., Rosi, A., Barbagallo, I. A., Alshatwi, A. A., Rio, D. D., Mena, P. R., & Godos, J. (2023) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1175022 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Effectiveness of Melatonin‐Containing Foods on Promoting Sleep: A Scoping Review
Nisar, T., Fuller, A., Gyawali, P., & Bird, S. (2026) · Food Science & Nutrition · doi:10.1002/fsn3.71823 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Sinclair, J. K., Baker, L., & Bottoms, L. (2026) · CLOK (University of Central Lancashire) · doi:10.21926/rpn.2603024
- Authors
- Hillman, A. R., Trickett, O., Brodsky, C., & Chrismas, B.
- Affiliations
- Ohio University (US)
- Qatar University (QA)
- Corresponding author
- Hillman, Angela R
- Venue
- Nutrition and Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2022-07-05
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 239-248
- ISSN
- 0260-1060 (ISSN-L)
- 2047-945X
- OpenAlex
- W4283837001
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nutrition and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Qatar University QSpace (Qatar University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Cherry Marketing Institute
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Keywords
- sleep quality, sleep duration, body composition, body mass, blood pressure, cellular health, antioxidants, melatonin, healthy adults
- MeSH terms
- Prunus avium, Adult, Antioxidants, Blood Pressure, Body Composition, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Melatonin, Middle Aged, Sleep, Dietary Supplements, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
