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Montmorency tart cherry powder at 500 mg daily does not improve sleep or inflammation outcomes in individuals with overweight or obesity

In a randomized controlled crossover trial of 34 individuals with overweight or obesity and sleep issues, 500 mg of Montmorency tart cherry powder 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 study suggests that higher doses than currently recommended may be needed for this population.

Last updated: Jul 8, 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
↓
Expected to improve sleep via melatonin or anti-inflammatory pathways
↓
Measured sleep and inflammation outcomes
↓
No significant improvements observed

Limitations

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Montmorency tart cherry powder improve sleep in overweight or obese individuals?▼

No, this study found no significant improvement in sleep outcomes with 500 mg daily for 14 days.

What dose of tart cherry powder was tested?▼

500 mg of Montmorency tart cherry powder capsules taken one hour before bed.

How long did the study last?▼

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

What were the main outcomes measured?▼

Sleep outcomes (total sleep time, deep sleep, REM sleep, nap duration, subjective sleep quality) and inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A).

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.