--- title: "Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia…" description: "Tart cherry juice may help older adults with insomnia sleep longer and more efficiently, possibly by affecting tryptophan metabolism and inflammation." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html" type: "study" study_key: "d28901958" journal: "Am J Ther" year: 2018 pmid: "28901958" doi: "10.1097/MJT.0000000000000584" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d28901958 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Am J Ther | | Year | 2018 | | PMID | [28901958](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28901958/) | | DOI | [10.1097/MJT.0000000000000584](https://doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000584) | | Study key | d28901958 | ## Takeaway Tart cherry juice may help older adults with insomnia sleep longer and more efficiently, possibly by affecting tryptophan metabolism and inflammation. ## The question Can tart cherry juice improve insomnia confirmed by polysomnography in older adults, and is tryptophan availability a potential mechanism? ## Hypothesis Montmorency tart cherry juice will improve insomnia as measured by polysomnography, and this improvement may be linked to increased tryptophan availability through the inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). ## Methods A placebo-controlled, balanced crossover study was conducted with subjects over 50 years old experiencing insomnia. Participants were randomized to receive either placebo or tart cherry juice (240 mL twice daily) for 2 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Sleep was assessed using polysomnography and 5 validated questionnaires. Serum levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio, and prostaglandin E2 were measured. In vitro experiments stimulated Caco-2 cells with interferon-gamma to measure the ability of cherry juice procyanidin to inhibit IDO. The content of procyanidin B-2 and other major anthocyanins in the cherry juice was also determined. ## Results Out of 11 randomized subjects, 8 completed the study after 3 were excluded due to sleep apnea. The completers showed an increase in sleep time by 84 minutes on polysomnography (P = 0.0182) and an increase in sleep efficiency on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (P = 0.03) when consuming cherry juice. Other questionnaires did not show significant differences. Serum kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio and prostaglandin E2 levels both decreased (both P < 0.05). In vitro, cherry juice procyanidin B-2 dose-dependently inhibited IDO. ## Conclusion Tart cherry juice increased sleep time and sleep efficiency in older adults with insomnia. The procyanidin B-2 in cherry juice inhibited IDO, which may increase tryptophan availability and reduce inflammation, potentially contributing to the observed improvements in insomnia. ## Limitations The study had a small sample size of 8 completers, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Three subjects were excluded due to sleep apnea, indicating that the results may not apply to individuals with this condition. ## Verbatim from the abstract > The 8 completers with insomnia increased sleep time by 84 minutes on polysomnography (P = 0.0182). Cherry juice procyanidin B-2 inhibited IDO, increased tryptophan availability, reduced inflammation, and may be partially responsible for improvement in insomnia. ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Tart Cherry Sleep Extract | Emerging evidence | [Tart Cherry Sleep Extract](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/118.md) | ## Reference 1. **Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms** Am J Ther 2018 · [PMID 28901958](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28901958/) · [DOI 10.1097/MJT.0000000000000584](https://doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000584) > The 8 completers with insomnia increased sleep time by 84 minutes on polysomnography (P = 0.0182). Cherry juice procyanidin B-2 inhibited IDO, increased tryptophan availability, reduced inflammation, and may be partially responsible for improvement in insomnia. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html","name":"Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms","description":"Tart cherry juice may help older adults with insomnia sleep longer and more efficiently, possibly by affecting tryptophan metabolism and inflammation.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28901958.html#study","name":"Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms","headline":"Pilot Study of Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms","datePublished":"2018","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Am J Ther"},"identifier":"PMID:28901958","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28901958/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000584","abstract":"Tart cherry juice may help older adults with insomnia sleep longer and more efficiently, possibly by affecting tryptophan metabolism and inflammation."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Tart Cherry Sleep Extract](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/118.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Evidence: promotes sleep quantity](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s118.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).