---
title: Tart Cherries and Melatonin Content
nct_id: NCT01528202
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: Northumbria University
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Sleep
countries: United Kingdom
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT01528202.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01528202"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2012-02-07
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:10:57.114Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Tart Cherries and Melatonin Content

**Official Title:** Effect of Tart Cherry Juice (Prunus Cerasus) on Melatonin Levels and Sleep Quality

**NCT ID:** [NCT01528202](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01528202)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 20
- **Lead Sponsor:** Northumbria University
- **Collaborators:** University of Surrey
- **Conditions:** Sleep
- **Start Date:** 2010-04
- **Completion Date:** 2011-06
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2012-02-07

## Brief Summary

The aim of this investigation was to examine the effects of tart Montmorency cherry juice on urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and sleep quality using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design.

## Detailed Description

The aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of tart cherry juice on sleep quality, quantity, and timing. Naturally circulating melatonin is instrumental in regulating sleep/wake schedules. Tart Montmorency cherries (Prunus Cerasus) contain high levels of melatonin and may be a useful intervention to supplement for realignment of circadian phase and by increasing the robustness of circadian amplitude. In normal healthy adults, with experimentally induced phase advanced circadian misalignment, the administration of a 3mg supplement of melatonin significantly increased sleep architecture characteristics. In this study we want to examine the efficacy of tart cherry juice in increasing urinary levels of melatonin and the subsequent impact this will have on sleep parameters.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 39 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** Yes

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Equal numbers of healthy, non-pathological males and females aged between 18-39.

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of epilepsy, current episode of major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder, or a current sleep problem or an inability to comprehend English, travel over two time zones within the last six months, excessive alcohol (over 3 units per day) or caffeine consumption (more than 6 caffeinated drinks or 1 after 6pm), a smoker, a shift worker, a familial history of diabetes, users of medication or supplements, or if the participant is pregnant or currently lactating.
```

## Arms

- **Baseline placebo** (NO_INTERVENTION) — measures taken before administration of placebo
- **Placebo** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR) — Placebo intervention given after 'baseline placebo' arm
- **baseline cherry juice** (NO_INTERVENTION) — measures taken before the cherry juice intervention
- **cherry juice** (EXPERIMENTAL) — trial where cherry juice is taken following the 'baseline cherry juice' arm

## Interventions

- **Cherry juice** (DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT) — 30 mLs preceding morning meal and 30 mLs preceding evening meal each day for 7 days.
- **Fruit juice cordial** (DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT) — fruit flavoured juice concentrate

## Primary Outcomes

- **urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin** _(time frame: continually for 48 hours)_ — urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin is the primary metabolite of melatonin and provides a sarrogate marker of melatonin metabolism. By measuring over a 48 h period it is possible to examine the circadian rhythm of melatonin.

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Sleep quality** _(time frame: continually throughout the duration of the study)_

## Locations (1)

- Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.northumbria university|newcastle upon tyne|tyne and wear|united kingdom` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT01528202.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01528202*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*