100% Watermelon Juice as a Food-First Intervention to Improve Cognitive Function: Ancillary Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Lycopene exhibits neuroprotective properties due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functionality. As watermelon is a rich source of lycopene, pasteurized watermelon juice provides lycopene in its most bioavailable form. This study examined relationships between circulating lycopene, cognitive performance, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in response to pasteurized 100% watermelon juice supplementation. A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover trial was conducted with postmenopausal women (n = 16, 60 + 4.1 years). Participants consumed two 360 mL servings of pasteurized 100% watermelon juice or a placebo beverage for 4 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected, and cognitive tests were administered to assess various neurocognitive domains. Statistical analyses included mixed models and Spearman correlations. Serum lycopene exhibited a significant treatment effect (p = 0.002) with a mean increase of 81%. However, this increase was not associated with changes in oxidative stress, inflammation, or cognitive function. Additional research is warranted to determine dose-durational effects for promoting cognition.

Keywords:

• Lycopene
• watermelon
• postmenopausal women
• cognitive function

Acknowledgements

Kristi M. Crowe-White and Amy C. Ellis are Co-Principal Investigators who contributed equally to the design and management of this study. As such, they should be considered co-anchor authors on this article. The Principal Investigators would like to thank study participants as well as the outstanding graduate and undergraduate students who contributed greatly to the study, Frey Farms (Keenes, IL) for donating the pasteurized 100% watermelon juice, and the Alabama Research Institute on Aging for clinical guidance in shaping this study.

Take away points

• Dietary supplementation of lycopene may improve cognition as a result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functionality. As pasteurized watermelon juice provides lycopene in its most bioavailable form, results demonstrated significant increases (81%) in serum lycopene.

• However, this increase was not associated with changes in oxidative stress, inflammation, or cognitive function. Additional research is warranted to determine dose-durational effects of supplementation for promoting cognition.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the American Heart Association 16MCPRP27260233 and the National Institute on Aging K07AG043588.