Tart Cherry
Tart Cherry (Prunus cerasus) is a dietary supplement with 3 published peer-reviewed studies involving 69 participants, researched for Sleep.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Sleep
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Sleep
To investigate the effects of tart cherry juice for the treatment of insomnia in older adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of tart cherry juice for the treatment of insomnia in older adults.
Dose
480 mL/day of tart cherry juice (2 x 240 mL) or placebo
Participants
8 men and women with an average age of 68 years
Duration
2 weeks per treatment
Results
The researchers observed that participants who consumed tart cherry juice experienced an increase in sleep time by 84 minutes, as measured by polysomnographic sleep study, which is a reliable method for assessing sleep quality. Sleep efficiency, or the percentage of time spent actually sleeping while in bed, also improved significantly based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. While the study utilised other validated questionnaires to assess sleep quality, other questionnaires did not show significant differences. Overall, tart cherry juice appears to positively affect sleep quality, as evidenced by both polysomnography and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire.
How They Measured It
Sleep quality was measured using self-reported health questionnaires and other validated questionnaires (the Insomnia Severity Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), which assess insomnia severity, sleepiness, and overall sleep quality. After two weeks of drinking either cherry juice or a placebo, participants had an overnight polysomnography sleep study, which also assesses sleep quality and identifies any sleep disorders.
To investigate the effects of a compound containing Montmorency tart cherry extract and Apocynum venetum on sleep and anxiety in adults with insomnia
Study Type
Open label clinical trial (uncontrolled)
Purpose
To investigate the effects of a compound containing Montmorency tart cherry extract and Apocynum venetum on sleep and anxiety in adults with insomnia
Dose
553 mg/day of tart cherry extract with 25 mg/day of Apocynum venetum
Participants
46 men and women with an average age of 36 years
Duration
4 weeks
Results
The researchers observed that bedtime consumption of tart cherry extract and Apocynum venetum significantly reduced insomnia severity and anxiety scores while also improving self-reported sleep quality and daytime alertness. Furthermore, sleep quality and alertness continued to improve week by week throughout the study.
How They Measured It
Insomnia was assessed using a self-assessed questionnaire (Insomnia Sleep Index), which measures the severity of insomnia.
To investigate the effects of a tart cherry juice beverage on sleep in older adults with insomnia.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study
Purpose
To investigate the effects of a tart cherry juice beverage on sleep in older adults with insomnia.
Dose
16-ounce tart cherry juice (2 x 8 ounce) or placebo beverage
Participants
15 men and women with insomnia, with an average age of 72 years
Duration
8 weeks
Results
The study found an association between a special tart cherry juice blend and significant improvements on sleep in older adults with insomnia. Specifically, the study showed a significant decrease in the time spent awake after falling asleep, and participants reported better overall sleep quality after drinking the juice compared to a placebo. Overall, the findings suggest that tart cherries may have promising benefits for improving sleep.
How They Measured It
Insomnia was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a validated seven-item questionnaire that measures difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, daytime impacts, concerns about sleep, and overall satisfaction with sleep quality. In addition, participants maintained daily sleep diaries throughout the study period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Tart Cherry research
There are currently 3 peer-reviewed studies on Tart Cherry (Prunus cerasus), involving 69 total participants. Research covers Sleep. The overall evidence strength is rated as Moderate.
The evidence is currently rated as "Moderate Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (3 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Tart Cherry has been researched for: Sleep. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 3 out of 3 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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