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European Journal of Nutrition
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition 1/2022

Open Access 01-02-2022 | Respiratory Microbiota | Original Contribution

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the acute and chronic benefits of American Ginseng (Cereboost®) on mood and cognition in healthy young adults, including in vitro investigation of gut microbiota changes as a possible mechanism of action

Authors: Lynne Bell, Adrian Whyte, Cindy Duysburgh, Massimo Marzorati, Pieter Van den Abbeele, Romain Le Cozannet, Pascale Fança-Berthon, Emilie Fromentin, Claire Williams

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

Cereboost®, an American ginseng extract, has shown improved short-term memory and attention/alertness in healthy young and middle-aged individuals, potentially via modulation of the gut microbiome and upregulation of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine. Here, we explored the effects of Cereboost® on cognition and mood in the first 6 h post intervention (acute), after 2 weeks daily supplementation (chronic), and whether 2 weeks daily supplementation altered the response to a single acute dose (acute-on-chronic). A concurrent in vitro study evaluated effects of repeated Cereboost® administration on human gut microbiota.

Methods

Cognitive effects of Cereboost® were assessed using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, with 61 healthy young adults. Modulation of the gut microbiome was concurrently modelled using the Simulator of the Human Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®), using a young adult donor.

Results

Consistent with previous findings, Cereboost® improved working memory and attention during the immediate postprandial period; effects that were amplified following two weeks’ treatment (acute-on-chronic) compared to acute testing alone. Chronic supplementation improved cognition on an acetylcholine-sensitive attention task and improved mental fatigue and self-assurance aspects of mood. The parallel in vitro study revealed significantly increased acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels in simulated proximal and distal colon regions, linked with observed increases in Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus.

Conclusion

This study confirmed the promising effects of Cereboost® on cognitive function and mood, while suggesting a possible link to alterations of the gut microbiome and modulation of acetylcholine. Further studies will be required to unravel the underlying mechanisms that are involved.

Registration

The study was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 6th July 2018 (Identifier: NCT03579095).
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the acute and chronic benefits of American Ginseng (Cereboost®) on mood and cognition in healthy young adults, including in vitro investigation of gut microbiota changes as a possible mechanism of action
Authors
Lynne Bell
Adrian Whyte
Cindy Duysburgh
Massimo Marzorati
Pieter Van den Abbeele
Romain Le Cozannet
Pascale Fança-Berthon
Emilie Fromentin
Claire Williams
Publication date
01-02-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 1/2022
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-021-02654-5

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