Investigating the acute effect of pomegranate extract on indicators of cognitive function in human volunteers: a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial

Abstract Regular intake of flavonoid-rich foods has been associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of dementia, improving cognitive performance, and delaying the onset of Alzheimer disease. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of acute intake of pomegranate extract (PE; Pomanox) on cognitive function in 20 healthy adults (7 men, 13 women, aged 18–64 years). Participants were randomly assigned to PE or placebo and assessed by cognitive tests; saliva samples were collected for cortisol assay before and after these tests. Within-group comparisons of postdose scores showed that logical reasoning was significantly faster after receiving PE (P