title: The effects of flavanone-rich citrus juice on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow: an acute, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial in healthy, young adults.
abstract: A plausible mechanism underlying flavonoid-associated cognitive effects is increased cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, behavioural and CBF effects following flavanone-rich juice consumption have not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of flavanone-rich juice is associated with acute cognitive benefits and increased regional CBF in healthy, young adults. An acute, single-blind, randomised, cross-over design was applied with two 500-ml drink conditions - high-flavanone (HF; 70·5 mg) drink and an energy-, and vitamin C- matched, zero-flavanone control. A total of twenty-four healthy young adults aged 18-30 years underwent cognitive testing at baseline and 2-h after drink consumption. A further sixteen, healthy, young adults were recruited for functional MRI assessment, whereby CBF was measured with arterial spin labelling during conscious resting state at baseline as well as 2 and 5 h after drink consumption. The HF drink was associated with significantly increased regional perfusion in the inferior and middle right frontal gyrus at 2 h relative to baseline and the control drink. In addition, the HF drink was associated with significantly improved performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test at 2 h relative to baseline and the control drink, but no effects were observed on any other behavioural cognitive tests. These results demonstrate that consumption of flavanone-rich citrus juice in quantities commonly consumed can acutely enhance blood flow to the brain in healthy, young adults. However, further studies are required to establish a direct causal link between increased CBF and enhanced behavioural outcomes following citrus juice ingestion.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AL,UK.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lamport
authors.affiliation: 1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AL,UK.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: 2Molecular Nutrition Group,School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Macready
authors.affiliation: 1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AL,UK.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbosa-Boucas
authors.affiliation: 3PepsiCo,100 Summit Lake Drive,Valhalla,NY 10595,USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: 1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AL,UK.
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: 2Molecular Nutrition Group,School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy P E
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: 1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AL,UK.
authors.forename: Laurie T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D062408:Breakfast; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D032083:Citrus paradisi / Q000737:chemistry*; D032084:Citrus sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004739:England; D044950:Flavanones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices / Q000032:analysis*; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044950:Flavanones; D018697:Nootropic Agents
keywords:  CBF cerebral blood flow;  CT control;  DSST Digit Symbol Substitution Test;  HF high flavanone;  fMRI functional MRI; Cerebral blood flow; Cognition; Cognitive function; Flavonoids; Functional MRI; Juices