title: A Jerte valley cherry product provides beneficial effects on sleep quality. Influence on aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present work, we evaluated the effect of the intake of a Jerte Valley cherry-based product (JVCP), compared to a placebo product, on sleep quality, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6-s) levels and the serum concentration of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Extremadura (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten young (20-30 years old), ten middle-aged (35-55 years old), and ten elderly (65-85 years old) participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A placebo (Kool-Aid®) or JVCP (patent no. ES 2342141 B1) were consumed twice a day, as lunch and dinner desserts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Actigraphic monitoring was used to record and display the temporal patterns of the individuals' activity and rest. Urinary aMT6-s and serum cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-8) were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The consumption of the JVCP improved the nocturnal rest, measured by sleep efficiency, number of awakenings, total nocturnal activity, sleep latency, assumed sleep, actual sleep time and immobility. Moreover, it was detected an increase in both the levels of aMT6-s found in first-void morning urine and the concentrations of serum pro-somnogenic cytokines obtained from samples collected at the acrophase of the melatonin rhythm (1.00 am) in all experimental age groups after the JVCP consumption. Generally, better results were obtained with advancing age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ingestion of the JVCP may contribute to establish a high-quality sleep and be used as a potential nutraceutical tool to prevent sleep disorders with the advance of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Gómez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barriga
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D013030:Spain; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin