Stimulatory Effect of Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate Powder on Plasma Levels of Total and Exosomal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Healthy Subjects: An Acute Within-Subject Clinical Study

Abstract

A pilot study by Reyes [1] previously showed that ingestion of single dose of whole coffee fruit concentrate (WCFC) powder increased blood levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during the first 60 minutes after ingestion. In the present report, we performed a single dose, placebo-controlled, within-subject study to confirm and further investigate this effect. Twenty healthy subjects with ages ranging from 25 to 35 participated in this study. All fasted and resting subjects received placebo on Day 1, WCFC on Day 2, and a cup of freshly brewed coffee on Day 3. Treatment with WCFC resulted in a statistically significant increase in plasma BDNF compared to placebo (p = 0.0073) or coffee (p = 0.0219) during first 60 minutes. In addition, e isolated exosomes from serum and found that they contained BDNF. Furthermore, oral WCFC consumption acutely increased BDNF levels in serum exosomes. In summary, all presented results justify further clinical investigation of WCFC as a tool to manage BDNF-dependent health conditions.

The composite alliance of FTO locus with obesity‐related genetic variants

“…Various genes are involved in obesity phenotypes like PCSK1, MCR4, BDNF and POMC. 39,[78][79][80][81][82][83] FTO was one of the six genes missed in fused toe mice on the 1.6-Mb chromosome segment, therefore it is rational to determine the FTO deficient phenotype (Figure 1). The mutation in these genes induced abnormal facial structure features, fused digits, abnormal left-right asymmetry and underdevelopment of hypothalamus and hyperplasia of thymus.…”

Complex Relationship between Obesity and the Fat Mass and Obesity Locus

“…Many genes that control the same phenotypes with lipid storage and obesity have been identified, such as PCSK1 108 , 109 , MCR4 110 - 112 , BDNF 113 , and POMC 114 - 116 . Therefore, it was reasonable to determine the phenotype of FTO deficiency.…”

Neurophysiological Effects of Whole Coffee Cherry Extract in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Pilot Study

“…Whole coffee cherry extract (WCCE), is a proprietary, safe [8], powdered extract of whole coffee cherries from Coffea arabica with high levels of polyphenols and substantially low (<2%) levels of caffeine (for a detailed composition profile, please see Table 1 of the study by Reyes-Izquierdo et al (2013b) [9]). WCCE has been previously associated with increased serum concentrations of both circulating and exosomal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in addition to increased alertness and decreased fatigue [4,[9][10][11][12]. BDNF is a protein synthesized in neurons and other types of cells, and it is associated with a range of neural (e.g., plasticity) [13][14][15][16] and psychological processes [17][18][19][20].…”

“…MCI is marked by problems with memory, language, thinking, and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. Given that earlier studies reported that WCCE may stimulate increases in BDNF [9,11], one remaining question was whether WCCE, potentially through increases in BDNF, could acutely improve cognitive function or provide protective effects in older adults who may be on the verge of or have MCI. To this end, BDNF has been associated with such changes via its effects on N-methyl-D-aspartate-type (NMDA) receptors [32][33][34].…”