NCT06786494

Tart Cherry Juice for Sleep in Older Adults With Insomnia: A Pilot Study of Feasibility and Comprehensive Mechanisms

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Courtney Millar · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is test if a study that asks older adults with sleep problems to consume tart cherry products is feasible and determine if it can change sleep patterns. This study is a total of 12 weeks. Participants will be asked to consume tart cherry juice for 4 weeks and the placebo juice for 4 weeks, while wearing a digital monitor that measures sleep. Blood (about 3 teaspoons) and urine (about 2 tablespoons) samples will be taken before and after consuming both juices to measure certain biological markers related to sleep.

Detailed description

The overall goal of this study is to determine feasibility of a tart cherry juice intervention in older adults, and generate preliminary data of outcomes and mechanisms related to sleep. We propose a 2-arm randomized, double-blind, cross-over study in 20 older adults with self-reported insomnia. Participants will consume 240 mL of tart cherry juice or placebo (calorically matched to the tart cherry juice beverage, but theoretically devoid of melatonin, tryptophan, magnesium and flavonoids), twice/evening for 4 weeks in a randomly assigned order.

Conditions

• Sleep Problems
• Insomnia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Tart Cherry Juice	Individuals will be asked to consume 240 mL (i.e., 8 ounces) at approximately 5 pm and 240 mL (i.e., 8 ounces) of tart cherry juice at approximately 1 hour before bedtime for 4 weeks.
OTHER	Placebo juice	Individuals will be asked to consume 240 mL (i.e., 8 ounces) at approximately 5 pm and 240 mL (i.e., 8 ounces) of placebo juice at approximately 1 hour before bedtime for 4 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-15
• Primary completion: 2025-08-13
• Completion: 2025-08-13
• First posted: 2025-01-22
• Last updated: 2026-03-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States