title: Effects of a commercial product containing guaraná on psychological well-being, anxiety and mood: a single-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guaranà (Paulinia cupana) seed extracts are increasingly popular worldwide for their stimulant, cognitive and behavioral effects. To assess the effects on psychological well-being, anxiety and mood of a commercially available guaranà preparation taken regularly over several days according to the labelled dosages and instructions, 27 healthy volunteers were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Guaranà 350 mg × 3 daily just after breakfast or placebo were given for 5 consecutive days. Assessment was performed one day after the last intake and included the psychological well-being (PWB) scales, the self-rating anxiety state scale (SAS), and the Bond-Lader mood scales. There were no significant differences between guaranà and placebo in any of the 6 areas of PWB, in SAS, as well as in any of the 16 mood scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy subjects a 5-day treatment with a commercial preparation of guaranà used according to labelled instructions provided no evidence for any major effects on psychological well-being, anxiety and mood. Considering the increasing popularity of guaranà-containing products sold as dietary supplements for fitness purposes, controlled studies are strongly warranted to assess their benefits in comparison to the labelled claims.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi n, 9, Varese, VA 21100, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca Ivan
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Silvestrini
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D032126:Paullinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts