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CognitionHACVACNCT07119788

Investigating the Effects of a Haskap Berry Supplement on Cognitive Health

A study testing Pure haskap berry powder and Vitamin-and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder in people with Cognition, run by University of Reading at 1 site in United Kingdom.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to investigate the postprandial (2h) and longer term (4 week) effects of a haskap berry supplement on cognitive, vascular, and metabolic function in healthy ageing adults aged 50+. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 50 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Cognition
What is being tested?
Pure haskap berry powder and Vitamin-and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
90 participants
Where
1 siteUnited Kingdom
Study dates
19 Jun 2025to Apr 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 50 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 50+ years old
  • Fruit \& veg intake less than or equal to 4 servings per day
  • Adequate English language and visual \& auditory acuity to perform the cognitive tasks
  • Normal BMI for age

Who cannot join

  • Being diagnosed with psychological or psychiatric disorders
  • ADHD or dyslexia
  • Any food allergy or intolerance
  • Use of medications and dietary supplements that may impact study results
  • Antibiotic use within the last 3 months
  • Adherence to vegan or vegetarian diets, or other specific diets that may impact study outcomes
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Conditions altering absorption of nutrients (e.g. celiac disease)
  • Being diagnosed with cardiometabolic disease (including type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease), or suffer from untreated hypertension or thrombosis related disorders
  • Taking blood thinners

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United Kingdom1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Nutrition, Cognition & Health Lab, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading

    Reading, RG6 6ES

    Lynne Bell, 01183788313, l.bell@reading.ac.uk

    Recruiting

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Investigating the Cognitive, Vascular, and Metabolic Benefits of a Vitamin- and Mineral-Enhanced Haskap Berry Dietary Supplement

This study aims to investigate the postprandial (2h) and longer term (4 week) effects of a haskap berry supplement on cognitive, vascular, and metabolic function in healthy ageing adults aged 50+.

Read the detailed description

This project aims to investigate the acute benefits (during the immediate post prandial period up to 2 hours) and chronic benefits (following 4 weeks daily supplementation) of a vitamin- and mineral-enhanced haskap berry supplement made from freeze-dried, powdered haskap berries. The main objective of this study is to trial the product in older adults aged 50+ to determine any cognitive, metabolic, or cardiovascular benefits over and above haskap powder alone or a placebo powder. The study will involve a screening visit and two testing visits, 4 weeks apart. For the 24 hours prior to each test visit, participants are asked to follow a low polyphenol diet. They are requested not to consume any food or drinks except water after 8.30pm, and on the morning of test visits to only consume one slice of buttered white toast and a glass of water prior to attending the visit. During the testing visits, cognitive and mood battery tests (to include measures of memory, executive functions, and stress, will be taken at baseline, at 2 hours following the consumption of the supplement as part of a meal, and again at 4 weeks following daily consumption of the supplement added to their usual diet. Blood glucose finger pricks will be recorded at each time point along with FMD (a measure of vascular reactivity).

Conditions
Cognition
Being tested
Placebo, Pure haskap berry powder, Vitamin-and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder
Keywords
Cognition, Mood, Stress, Vascular, Blood glucose, Haskap berries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    6g serving of a calorie-matched powder, artificially coloured and flavoured to resemble berry powder

  • Pure haskap berry powderDietary supplement

    6g serving of a pure, freeze-dried haskap berry powder

  • Vitamin-and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powderDietary supplement

    6g serving of a vitamin- and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder (fortified with potassium iodide, zinc bisglycinate, vitamin B5, and vitamin B12

Study groups in NCT07119788
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PlaceboPlacebo comparator30 participants to receive daily 6g servings of a calorie-matched powder, artificially coloured and flavoured to resemble berry powder
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Pure haskap berry powderExperimental30 participants to receive daily 6g servings of a pure, freeze-dried haskap berry powder
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Pure haskap berry powder
Vitamin- and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powderExperimental30 participants to receive daily 6g servings of a vitamin- and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder (fortified with potassium iodide, zinc bisglycinate, vitamin B5, and vitamin B12
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Vitamin-and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Delayed recall (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    The RAVLT is a verbal learning task that presents participants with 15 words (list A) 5 times, giving participants one minute after each presentation to recall as many words as they can from the list. After 5 presentations, a new list (list B) is presented and recalled, and finally participants are asked (without hearing list A again) to recall as many words as they can from list A. After a 30 minute period, participants are asked to think back to the task and recall as many words as possible from list A only, providing a measure of delayed recall.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Delayed recall (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    The RAVLT is a verbal learning task that presents participants with 15 words (list A) 5 times, giving participants one minute after each presentation to recall as many words as they can from the list. After 5 presentations, a new list (list B) is presented and recalled, and finally participants are asked (without hearing list A again) to recall as many words as they can from list A. After a 30 minute period, participants are asked to think back to the task and recall as many words as possible from list A only, providing a measure of delayed recall.

    Measured: 2 hours

  3. Delayed recall (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    The RAVLT is a verbal learning task that presents participants with 15 words (list A) 5 times, giving participants one minute after each presentation to recall as many words as they can from the list. After 5 presentations, a new list (list B) is presented and recalled, and finally participants are asked (without hearing list A again) to recall as many words as they can from list A. After a 30 minute period, participants are asked to think back to the task and recall as many words as possible from list A only, providing a measure of delayed recall.

    Measured: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes (29)
  1. Rate of learning (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    The RAVLT is a verbal learning task that presents participants with 15 sequential words (list A) 5 times, giving participants one minute after each presentation to recall as many words as they can from the list. Scores are recorded as a percentage of accuracy, and the rate of learning is determined through change in accuracy across the 5 recalls.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Rate of learning (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    The RAVLT is a verbal learning task that presents participants with 15 sequential words (list A) 5 times, giving participants one minute after each presentation to recall as many words as they can from the list. Scores are recorded as a percentage of accuracy, and the rate of learning is determined through change in accuracy across the 5 recalls.

    Measured: 2 hours

  3. Rate of learning (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    The RAVLT is a verbal learning task that presents participants with 15 sequential words (list A) 5 times, giving participants one minute after each presentation to recall as many words as they can from the list. Scores are recorded as a percentage of accuracy, and the rate of learning is determined through change in accuracy across the 5 recalls.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  4. Word recognition (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    Following the delayed word recall, words from list A, list B and novel words are displayed sequentially on the screen and participants are asked to indicate which words were from list A only.

    Measured: Baseline

  5. Word recognition (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    Following the delayed word recall, words from list A, list B and novel words are displayed sequentially on the screen and participants are asked to indicate which words were from list A only.

    Measured: 2 hours

  6. Word recognition (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task)

    Following the delayed word recall, words from list A, list B and novel words are displayed sequentially on the screen and participants are asked to indicate which words were from list A only.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  7. Modified Attention Network Task (MANT)

    This task examines execution function, attention and inhibition. Participants respond to a centrally presented target arrow pointing to the left or the right by pressing the corresponding key on the keyboard. The target arrow is flanked by arrows that point in the same (congruent) or opposite (incongruent) direction. Previous studies have found that participants show larger latencies and more errors on incongruent trials when compared with congruent trials due to the conflicting interference of the incongruently facing arrows. Response latencies to congruent trials reflect processing speed, while errors on incongruent trials indicate susceptibility to interference. In this study participants will be presented with two blocks of the MANT - one normal block, and one block with the addition of serial 3s. In the serial 3s block, participants will be asked to count backwards in 3s out loud while continuing to perform the MANT, increasing the level of cognitive demand.

    Measured: Baseline

  8. Modified Attention Network Task (MANT)

    This task examines execution function, attention and inhibition. Participants respond to a centrally presented target arrow pointing to the left or the right by pressing the corresponding key on the keyboard. The target arrow is flanked by arrows that point in the same (congruent) or opposite (incongruent) direction. Previous studies have found that participants show larger latencies and more errors on incongruent trials when compared with congruent trials due to the conflicting interference of the incongruently facing arrows. Response latencies to congruent trials reflect processing speed, while errors on incongruent trials indicate susceptibility to interference. In this study participants will be presented with two blocks of the MANT - one normal block, and one block with the addition of serial 3s. In the serial 3s block, participants will be asked to count backwards in 3s out loud while continuing to perform the MANT, increasing the level of cognitive demand.

    Measured: 2 hours

  9. Modified Attention Network Task (MANT)

    This task examines execution function, attention and inhibition. Participants respond to a centrally presented target arrow pointing to the left or the right by pressing the corresponding key on the keyboard. The target arrow is flanked by arrows that point in the same (congruent) or opposite (incongruent) direction. Previous studies have found that participants show larger latencies and more errors on incongruent trials when compared with congruent trials due to the conflicting interference of the incongruently facing arrows. Response latencies to congruent trials reflect processing speed, while errors on incongruent trials indicate susceptibility to interference. In this study participants will be presented with two blocks of the MANT - one normal block, and one block with the addition of serial 3s. In the serial 3s block, participants will be asked to count backwards in 3s out loud while continuing to perform the MANT, increasing the level of cognitive demand.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  10. Task Switching Task

    This task requires executive function and sustained attention, and provides a measure of cognitive flexibility. Participants view a circle with 8 equally spaced radii, 2 of which form a bold bisecting line. Numbers are chosen randomly from a set of 1-4 \& 6-9 and displayed sequentially in a clockwise direction. A response of higher or lower than 5 is made for trials below the bold line, and even or odd for numbers above the line. Outcome measures include overall accuracy and reaction time (RT) on correct trials, as well as accuracy and RT on trials where there is a 'switch cost' from stimuli moving from below to above the bold line and vice versa.

    Measured: Baseline

  11. Task Switching Task

    This task requires executive function and sustained attention, and provides a measure of cognitive flexibility. Participants view a circle with 8 equally spaced radii, 2 of which form a bold bisecting line. Numbers are chosen randomly from a set of 1-4 \& 6-9 and displayed sequentially in a clockwise direction. A response of higher or lower than 5 is made for trials below the bold line, and even or odd for numbers above the line. Outcome measures include overall accuracy and reaction time (RT) on correct trials, as well as accuracy and RT on trials where there is a 'switch cost' from stimuli moving from below to above the bold line and vice versa.

    Measured: 2 hours

  12. Task Switching Task

    This task requires executive function and sustained attention, and provides a measure of cognitive flexibility. Participants view a circle with 8 equally spaced radii, 2 of which form a bold bisecting line. Numbers are chosen randomly from a set of 1-4 \& 6-9 and displayed sequentially in a clockwise direction. A response of higher or lower than 5 is made for trials below the bold line, and even or odd for numbers above the line. Outcome measures include overall accuracy and reaction time (RT) on correct trials, as well as accuracy and RT on trials where there is a 'switch cost' from stimuli moving from below to above the bold line and vice versa.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  13. Corsi Block Tapping Task

    A standardised assessment of visuospatial working memory. The task comprises nine identical squares fixed in a random arrangement on a screen. Participants observe sequences of between two and nine blocks, which they then reproduce as accurately as possible by clicking with the mouse. Outcomes include number of correct sequences identified as a percentage of accuracy, and number of correct blocks identified (not necessarily in the correct sequence). Four versions of each sequence length are presented during the task. A novel sequence will be presented on each occasion, the order of which will be counterbalanced across participants.

    Measured: Baseline

  14. Corsi Block Tapping Task

    A standardised assessment of visuospatial working memory. The task comprises nine identical squares fixed in a random arrangement on a screen. Participants observe sequences of between two and nine blocks, which they then reproduce as accurately as possible by clicking with the mouse. Outcomes include number of correct sequences identified as a percentage of accuracy, and number of correct blocks identified (not necessarily in the correct sequence). Four versions of each sequence length are presented during the task. A novel sequence will be presented on each occasion, the order of which will be counterbalanced across participants.

    Measured: 2 hours

  15. Corsi Block Tapping Task

    A standardised assessment of visuospatial working memory. The task comprises nine identical squares fixed in a random arrangement on a screen. Participants observe sequences of between two and nine blocks, which they then reproduce as accurately as possible by clicking with the mouse. Outcomes include number of correct sequences identified as a percentage of accuracy, and number of correct blocks identified (not necessarily in the correct sequence). Four versions of each sequence length are presented during the task. A novel sequence will be presented on each occasion, the order of which will be counterbalanced across participants.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  16. Flow mediated dilation (FMD)

    Participants will complete FMD assessment prior to each cognitive task battery (baseline, 2 hours, 4 weeks). FMD is a non-invasive ultrasound technique that measures how the brachial artery dilates in response to increased blood flow following occlusion. Participants are required to lie down for 15 minutes before scanning commences. The procedure then takes 9 minutes: the brachial artery is first scanned for 1 minute, a blood pressure cuff is then inflated on the forearm for 5 minutes, before being released and the artery scanned for a further 3 minutes. This data will be analysed using Cardiovascular Suit. During FMD, laser doppler flowometry (LDF) will also be measured using the index finger of the right arm and analysed for % PORH (post occlusive reactive hyperaemia), measured in flux units .

    Measured: Baseline

  17. Flow mediated dilation (FMD)

    Participants will complete FMD assessment prior to each cognitive task battery (baseline, 2 hours, 4 weeks). FMD is a non-invasive ultrasound technique that measures how the brachial artery dilates in response to increased blood flow following occlusion. Participants are required to lie down for 15 minutes before scanning commences. The procedure then takes 9 minutes: the brachial artery is first scanned for 1 minute, a blood pressure cuff is then inflated on the forearm for 5 minutes, before being released and the artery scanned for a further 3 minutes. This data will be analysed using Cardiovascular Suit. During FMD, laser doppler flowometry (LDF) will also be measured using the index finger of the right arm and analysed for % PORH (post occlusive reactive hyperaemia), measured in flux units .

    Measured: 2 hours

  18. Flow mediated dilation (FMD)

    Participants will complete FMD assessment prior to each cognitive task battery (baseline, 2 hours, 4 weeks). FMD is a non-invasive ultrasound technique that measures how the brachial artery dilates in response to increased blood flow following occlusion. Participants are required to lie down for 15 minutes before scanning commences. The procedure then takes 9 minutes: the brachial artery is first scanned for 1 minute, a blood pressure cuff is then inflated on the forearm for 5 minutes, before being released and the artery scanned for a further 3 minutes. This data will be analysed using Cardiovascular Suit. During FMD, laser doppler flowometry (LDF) will also be measured using the index finger of the right arm and analysed for % PORH (post occlusive reactive hyperaemia), measured in flux units .

    Measured: 4 weeks

  19. Blood glucose

    Blood glucose will be measured before each cognitive task battery (baseline, 2h, 4 weeks) using finger prick capillary sampling and an Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose monitor.

    Measured: Baseline

  20. Blood glucose

    Blood glucose will be measured before each cognitive task battery (baseline, 2h, 4 weeks) using finger prick capillary sampling and an Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose monitor.

    Measured: 2 hours

  21. Blood glucose

    Blood glucose will be measured before each cognitive task battery (baseline, 2h, 4 weeks) using finger prick capillary sampling and an Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose monitor.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  22. Blood pressure

    Average (triplicate) resting brachial left arm cuffed systolic and diastolic blood pressure mmHg.

    Measured: Baseline

  23. Blood pressure

    Average (triplicate) resting brachial left arm cuffed systolic and diastolic blood pressure mmHg.

    Measured: 2 hours

  24. Blood pressure

    Average (triplicate) resting brachial left arm cuffed systolic and diastolic blood pressure mmHg.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  25. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X) performance

    A validated self-report measure of affective state. The PANAS comprises of two distinct affective states (positive and negative), as well as 11 individual affective states (fear, guilt, sadness, surprise, hostility, shyness, joviality, self-assurance, attentiveness, fatigue and serenity). Subjects use a Likert scale from 1 - 5 to indicate how the word relates to how they are currently feeling. As this analysis is exploratory all affective states will be explored.

    Measured: Baseline

  26. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X) performance

    A validated self-report measure of affective state. The PANAS comprises of two distinct affective states (positive and negative), as well as 11 individual affective states (fear, guilt, sadness, surprise, hostility, shyness, joviality, self-assurance, attentiveness, fatigue and serenity). Subjects use a Likert scale from 1 - 5 to indicate how the word relates to how they are currently feeling. As this analysis is exploratory all affective states will be explored.

    Measured: 2 hours

  27. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X) performance

    A validated self-report measure of affective state. The PANAS comprises of two distinct affective states (positive and negative), as well as 11 individual affective states (fear, guilt, sadness, surprise, hostility, shyness, joviality, self-assurance, attentiveness, fatigue and serenity). Subjects use a Likert scale from 1 - 5 to indicate how the word relates to how they are currently feeling. As this analysis is exploratory all affective states will be explored.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  28. Stress (Perceived Stress Scale)

    Stress scores will be measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at baseline and 4 weeks

    Measured: Baseline

  29. Stress (Perceived Stress Scale)

    Stress scores will be measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at baseline and 4 weeks

    Measured: 4 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Aug 2025
  2. Study start19 Jun 2025
  3. Primary completionFeb 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionApr 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants will be allocated to receive either a vitamin- and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powdered supplement, pure haskap berry powder, or a calorie matched placebo powder
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07119788
Sponsor's protocol ID
UREC 25/08
Other IDs
FA2_24-11
Acronym
HACVAC
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
5 Aug 2025
Last updated
13 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All relevant study outcomes described in the Ethics Review Application Form, including demographics, anthropometrics, cognitive performance, blood glucose, and FMD data, will be preserved and made available via a data repository, such as the University of Reading data repository, in anonymised form, so that they can be consulted and re-used by others.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Pure haskap berry powder and Vitamin-and mineral-enhanced haskap berry powder in people with Cognition, run by University of Reading at 1 site in United Kingdom.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Lynne Bell (01189788313, l.bell@reading.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Delayed recall (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Aug 2025.

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