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Montmorency tart cherry powder (500 mg) does not improve sleep or inflammation outcomes in individuals with overweight or obesity.

In a randomized controlled crossover study of 34 individuals with sleep issues and overweight or obesity (mean BMI 32.1 kg/m²), 500 mg of Montmorency tart cherry capsules taken one hour before bed for 14 days showed no significant effects on sleep outcomes (total sleep time, deep and REM sleep, nap duration, nocturnal sleep duration) or inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A) compared to placebo (p > 0.05 for all). The findings suggest higher doses than currently recommended may be needed for this population.

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score23/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★☆☆☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Commonly Used Dose of Montmorency Tart Cherry Powder Does Not Improve Sleep or Inflammation Outcomes in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity.

observational

Tucker RM, Kim N, Gurzell E, Mathi S, Chavva S, Senthilkumar D, Bartunek O, Fenton KC, Herndon-Fenton SJ, Cardino VN, Cooney GM, Young S, Fenton JI · Nutrients (2024)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 14 days
Intervention: 500 mg Montmorency tart cherry powder capsules taken one hour before bed for 14 days
Outcome: Sleep outcomes (total sleep time, deep sleep duration, REM sleep duration, nap duration, nocturnal sleep duration via Zmachine and Fitbit Inspire 3; subjective sleep quality via Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Sleep Quality Scale, Insomnia Severity Index) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A)
Effect Size: N/A (no significant effects reported)
Population: Individuals with sleep issues and overweight or obesity (mean BMI 32.1 ± 7.0 kg/m²)

Result:

PubMed: 39683518DOI: 10.3390/nu16234125

Mechanism Graph

MTC supplementation taken before bed
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No significant changes in sleep architecture or duration
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No significant changes in inflammatory cytokine levels
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No improvement in sleep or inflammation outcomes

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=34)
  • ⚠Short intervention duration (14 days)
  • ⚠Dose may be insufficient for this population

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Montmorency tart cherry powder improve sleep in people with overweight or obesity?▼

No, this study found no significant improvement in sleep outcomes at a dose of 500 mg taken before bed for 14 days.

What dose of tart cherry was tested in this study?▼

The study tested 500 mg of Montmorency tart cherry powder in capsule form, taken one hour before bedtime.

How long did the intervention last?▼

Participants took the supplement or placebo for 14 days in a crossover design.

What sleep measures were assessed?▼

Sleep was measured using the Zmachine and Fitbit Inspire 3 for objective outcomes (total sleep time, deep and REM sleep, nap duration, nocturnal sleep duration) and questionnaires (PSQI, Sleep Quality Scale, Insomnia Severity Index) for subjective outcomes.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Tucker RM, Kim N, Gurzell E, Mathi S, Chavva S, Senthilkumar D, Bartunek O, Fenton KC, Herndon-Fenton SJ, Cardino VN, Cooney GM, Young S, Fenton JI. "Commonly Used Dose of Montmorency Tart Cherry Powder Does Not Improve Sleep or Inflammation Outcomes in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity.." Nutrients, 2024. PMID: 39683518 DOI: 10.3390/nu16234125
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.