![]() ![]() In these studies, some athletes report an improvement in their sleep from tart cherry supplementation however, there is no definitive synthesis of the available evidence to prove and support the general public and clinicians in utilising Prunus cerasus for its soporific effects. This capacity for tart cherries to reduce oxidative stress has been demonstrated to reduce exercise-induced inflammation and improve muscle recovery, and it is commonly used by athletes to improve their exercise recovery and performance. Tart cherries contain multiple anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative phytonutrients including phenolic acid (polyphenols) and flavonoids. One nutritional supplement that has shown early promise is Prunus cerasus ( tart, sour, Montmorency cherry). Other complementary therapies include nutritional supplementation however, the evidence regarding their effect is variable. Many individuals may turn to other therapies to improve their sleep quality, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) which has its own limitations such as a paradoxical increase in daytime somnolence which persists for 3–4 weeks, often resulting in patient dropout. They also carry the risk of addiction and abuse. Many sleep-promoting agents have significant adverse effects including sedation and psychomotor impairment. Caffeine is used by many to combat daytime somnolence and fatigue but negatively impacts the quality of sleep, creating a cycle of worsening fatigue and increased dependence. Sleep deprivation may be managed with pharmacological therapies however, these medications are not without notable side effects. Furthermore, those with significant sleep deprivation account for a disproportionately high utilisation of health care resources. This translates to an increased risk of medical errors, traffic accidents and workplace injuries and reduced academic performance. ![]() Insufficient sleep confers more immediate risks by contributing to erratic, unsafe behaviours and impulsivity, impaired judgement and daytime somnolence/microsleeps. Sleep deprivation also poses a larger community risk. The ingestion of Prunus cerasus (tart cherry) has been purported to assist with sleep and possibly aid in ameliorating this issue. This association with negative outcomes is more direct than that observed with sleep excess, which is likely secondary to chronic health issues. Patients with sleep deprivation also report lower quality of life compared to population norms. Sleep deprivation is associated with an increased risk of both all-cause mortality and many leading causes of death, namely cardiovascular disease, malignancy, cerebrovascular disease, metabolic and autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Sleep is a complex process that supports many metabolic and physiological processes and serves as a major, modifiable behaviour that is intimately related to the health of an individual. ![]() Whilst guidelines for duration of sleep differ according to age group, approximately 35% of adults and 70% of high school students do not obtain the recommended amount of sleep. However, there are other causes for sleep deprivation such as poor sleep hygiene, circadian rhythm disturbances (such as shift work) and medications. Sleep deprivation may occur in the setting of conditions such as sleep apnoea which already have established management options. Sleep deprivation is a global health problem with significant implications for individuals and society. Tart cherry may be the next frontier of sleep medicine and warrants further research. ![]() Whilst individuals may not subjectively experience a benefit, there is evidence to support significant improvements to total sleep time and sleep efficiency with the ingestion of Prunus cerasus using objective measures. There was high associated heterogeneity ( I 2 = 81.5%). Objective TST was significantly higher in the cherry cohorts, with a pooled effect size of 1.21 (95% CI 0.83–1.58, P < 0.01). There was low associated heterogeneity ( I 2 = 0%). Objective SE, however, was significantly higher in the cherry cohort when compared to placebo with an effect size of 0.63 (95% CI 0.29–0.97, P < 0.01). Meta-analysis of subjectively recalled sleep efficiency (SE) and total sleep time (TST) were not significant. We identified a total of 277 unique records, from which 8 studies of low-moderate methodological quality were included in the systematic review. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effect of Prunus cerasus on objective and subjective measures of sleep. However, initial randomised controlled trials suggest Prunus cerasus (tart cherry) ingestion may be beneficial. A pharmacological agent that improves subjective and objective measures of sleep, without significant side effects, remains nebulous. Sleep deprivation and insomnia are associated with mortality and morbidity worldwide. ![]()
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