{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T06:17:14Z","timestamp":1791526634459,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,20]],"date-time":"2017-02-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1487548800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Epidemiological evidence suggests that consumption of flavonoids (usually via fruits and vegetables) is associated with decreased risk of developing depression. One plausible explanation for this association is the well-documented beneficial effects of flavonoids on executive function (EF). Impaired EF is linked to cognitive processes (e.g., rumination) that maintain depression and low mood; therefore, improved EF may reduce depressionogenic cognitive processes and improve mood. Study 1: 21 young adults (18\u201321 years old) consumed a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink and a matched placebo in a counterbalanced cross-over design. Study 2: 50 children (7\u201310 years old) were randomly assigned to a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink or a matched placebo. In both studies, participants and researchers were blind to the experimental condition, and mood was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule before and 2 h after consumption of the drinks. In both studies, the blueberry intervention increased positive affect (significant drink by session interaction) but had no effect on negative affect. This observed effect of flavonoids on positive affect in two independent samples is of potential practical value in improving public health. If the effect of flavonoids on positive affect is replicated, further investigation will be needed to identify the mechanisms that link flavonoid interventions with improved positive mood.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu9020158","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,20]],"date-time":"2017-02-20T11:07:24Z","timestamp":1487588844000},"page":"158","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":85,"title":["Effects of Acute Blueberry Flavonoids on Mood in Children and Young Adults"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Sundus","family":"Khalid","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 7BE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katie","family":"Barfoot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 7BE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabrielle","family":"May","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 7BE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Lamport","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 7BE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9975-2023","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shirley","family":"Reynolds","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 7BE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Claire","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 7BE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO) Depression-Fact Sheet. Available online: http:\/\/www.who.int\/mediacentre\/factsheets\/fs369\/en\/."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1341","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(04)16043-1","article-title":"Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in childhood depression: Systematic review of published versus unpublished data","volume":"363","author":"Whittington","year":"2004","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"186","article-title":"Remission and Recovery in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS): Acute and Long-term Outcomes","volume":"48","author":"Kennard","year":"2009","journal-title":"JAACAP"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.39224.494340.55","article-title":"Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and routine specialist care with and without cognitive behaviour therapy in adolescents with major depression: Randomised controlled trial","volume":"335","author":"Goodyer","year":"2007","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2008.10.028","article-title":"Cognitive inhibition and working memory in unipolar depression","volume":"116","author":"Gohier","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"866","DOI":"10.1076\/jcen.25.6.866.16472","article-title":"Neuropsychological performance in patients with depression is associated with clinical, etiological and genetic risk factors","volume":"25","author":"Naismith","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Clin. Exp. Neuropsychol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"917","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsych.2007.05.034","article-title":"Distinct profiles of neurocognitive function in unmedicated unipolar depression and bipolar II depression","volume":"62","author":"Clark","year":"2007","journal-title":"Biol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejphar.2009.08.046","article-title":"Cognitive impairment in major depression","volume":"626","author":"Marazziti","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1076\/jcen.25.2.242.13639","article-title":"Normative data from the CANTAB. I: Development of executive function over the lifespan","volume":"25","author":"Wood","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Clin. Exp. Neuropsychol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1641","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8624.2010.01499.x","article-title":"A developmental perspective on executive function","volume":"81","author":"Best","year":"2010","journal-title":"Child Dev."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.3233\/NUA-2012-0002","article-title":"The effects of flavonoid and other polyphenol consumption on cognitive performance: A systematic research review of human experimental and epidemiologic studies","volume":"1","author":"Lamport","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nutr. Aging"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nut.2014.09.013","article-title":"Effects of a single dose of a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink on memory in 8 to 10 year old children","volume":"31","author":"Whyte","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutrition"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"292S","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/81.1.292S","article-title":"Polyphenols and cardiovascular disease: Effects on endothelial and platelet function","volume":"81","author":"Vita","year":"2005","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1007\/s12263-009-0135-4","article-title":"Flavonoids and cognitive function: A review of human randomized controlled trial studies and recommendations for future studies","volume":"4","author":"Macready","year":"2009","journal-title":"Genes Nutr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5709","DOI":"10.1021\/jf2036033","article-title":"Berry fruit enhances beneficial signalling in the brain","volume":"60","author":"Miller","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1168","DOI":"10.1002\/ptr.2388","article-title":"Improved cognitive performance after dietary supplementation with a Pinus radiata bark extract formulation","volume":"22","author":"Pipingas","year":"2008","journal-title":"Phytother. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5869","DOI":"10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.0914-07.2007","article-title":"Plant-derived flavanol (-)epicatechin enhances angiogenesis and retention of spatial memory in mice","volume":"27","author":"Lucero","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"255","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2011.02.013","article-title":"Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in an acute improvement in visual and cognitive functions","volume":"103","author":"Field","year":"2011","journal-title":"Physiol. Behav."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1505","DOI":"10.1177\/0269881109106923","article-title":"Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance during sustained mental effort","volume":"24","author":"Scholey","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Psychopharmacol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2021","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-015-1016-9","article-title":"Flavonoid-rich orange juice is associated with acute improvement in cognitive function in healthy middle-aged males","volume":"55","author":"Alharbi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rendeiro, C., Vazour, D., Rattray, M., Waffo-T\u00e9guo, P., M\u00e9rillon, J.M., Butler, L.T., Williams, C.M., and Spencer, J.P. (2013). Dietary levels of pure flavonoids improve spatial memory performance and increase hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor. PLoS ONE, 8.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0063535"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"506","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.114.088518","article-title":"Chronic consumption of flavanone-rich orange juice is associated with cognitive benefits: An 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy older adults","volume":"101","author":"Kean","year":"2015","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S215","DOI":"10.1097\/00005344-200606001-00018","article-title":"The effect of flavanol-rich cocoa on the fMRI response to a cognitive task in healthy young people","volume":"47","author":"Francis","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"518","DOI":"10.1159\/000341101","article-title":"Blueberries and neuronal aging","volume":"58","year":"2012","journal-title":"Gerontology"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"704","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.115.124545","article-title":"Dietary flavonoid intake and risk of incident depression in midlife and older women","volume":"104","author":"Chang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1038\/ejcn.2014.222","article-title":"Fruit and vegetable consumption and prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in mid-age women: Results from the Australian longitudinal study on women\u2019s health","volume":"69","author":"Mihrshahi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"849","DOI":"10.1039\/C3FO60590F","article-title":"The acute effect of flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach on cognitive performance and mood in healthy men and women","volume":"5","author":"Bondonno","year":"2014","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.2174\/157340110790909608","article-title":"Polyphenols: A Potential New Strategy for the Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression","volume":"6","author":"Bouayed","year":"2010","journal-title":"Curr. Nutr. Food Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1177\/0269881112473791","article-title":"Cocoa polyphenols enhance positive mood states but not cognitive performance: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial","volume":"27","author":"Pase","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Psychopharmacol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2097","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114516004359","article-title":"Is there an association between diet and depression in children and adolescents? A systematic review","volume":"116","author":"Khalid","year":"2016","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ypmed.2009.05.009","article-title":"The association between dietary patterns and mental health in early adolescence","volume":"49","author":"Oddy","year":"2009","journal-title":"Prev. Med."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1093\/heapro\/daq054","article-title":"Family functioning, parental psychological distress, child behavioral problems, socio-economic disadvantage and fruit and vegetable consumption among 4\u201312 year-old Victorians, Australia","volume":"26","author":"Renzaho","year":"2011","journal-title":"Health Promot. Int."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1007\/s00213-012-2719-8","article-title":"Blueberry supplementation induces spatial memory improvements and region-specific regulation of hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression in young rats","volume":"223","author":"Rendeiro","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychopharmacology"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1063","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.54.6.1063","article-title":"Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales","volume":"54","author":"Watson","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Pers. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1348\/0144665031752934","article-title":"The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS); Construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non-clinical sample","volume":"43","author":"Crawford","year":"2004","journal-title":"Br. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1007\/s10578-009-0130-4","article-title":"Psychometric Properties of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C) in Children with Anxiety Disorders","volume":"3","author":"Hughes","year":"2009","journal-title":"Child Psychiatry Hum. Dev."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Lezak, M.D., Howieson, D.B., and Loring, D.W. (2004). Neuropsychological Assessment, Oxford University Press. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1044","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroscience.2009.01.057","article-title":"The effect of acute treadmill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children","volume":"159","author":"Hillman","year":"2009","journal-title":"Neuroscience"},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Torgesen, J.K., Wagner, R., and Rashotte, C. (1999). TOWRE\u20132 Test of Word Reading Efficiency, ProED Publishing Co.. [pro-ed.]."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Barfoot, K.L., May, G., Lamport, D.J., Ricketts, J., Riddell, P., and Williams, C.M. (2017). University of Reading. Unpublished work."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477S","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1550-8528.1995.tb00215.x","article-title":"Brain serotonin, carbohydrate-carving obesity and depression","volume":"3","author":"Wurtman","year":"1995","journal-title":"Obes. Res."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S61","DOI":"10.1301\/nr.2003.may.S61-S67","article-title":"Carbohydrate, Memory and Mood","volume":"61","author":"Benton","year":"2003","journal-title":"Nutr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.1037\/1040-3590.11.3.326","article-title":"A measure of positive and negative affect for children: Scale development and preliminary validation","volume":"11","author":"Laurent","year":"1999","journal-title":"Psychol. Assess."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"771","DOI":"10.1080\/10715760410001727858","article-title":"Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of dietary flavonoids in humans","volume":"38","author":"Manach","year":"2004","journal-title":"Free Radic. Res."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1007\/s12263-008-0091-4","article-title":"The neuroprotective potential of flavonoids: A multiplicity of effects","volume":"3","author":"Vauzour","year":"2008","journal-title":"Genes Nutr."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1038\/35036228","article-title":"The prefrontal cortex and cognitive control","volume":"1","author":"Miller","year":"2000","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Schore, A.N. (2016). Affect Regulation and the Origin of Self: The Neurobiology of Emotional Development, Routledge. [Classic ed.]."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jff.2015.06.005","article-title":"Acute supplementation with blackcurrant extracts modulates cognitive functioning and inhibits monoamine oxidase-B in healthy young adults","volume":"17","author":"Watson","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Funct. Foods"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1476-5381.2011.01228.x","article-title":"Flavonoid modulation of GABA(A) receptors","volume":"163","author":"Hanrahan","year":"2011","journal-title":"Br. J. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_50","first-page":"9","article-title":"Flavonoids as GABAA receptor ligands: The whole story?","volume":"4","author":"Wasowski","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Exp. Pharmacol."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/9\/2\/158\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:28:40Z","timestamp":1760207320000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/9\/2\/158"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,20]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,2]]}},"alternative-id":["nu9020158"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu9020158","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,20]]}}}