Diets enriched with a Jerte Valley cherry‐based nutraceutical product reinforce nocturnal behaviour in young and old animals of nocturnal (Rattus norvegicus) and diurnal (Streptopelia risoria) chronotypes

Abstract

The decline in melatonin secretion with age seems to be one of the major reasons for increased sleep disruption in older animals. Previously, we showed that the administration with melatonin or its precursor, tryptophan, improved activity/rest rhythms in aged individuals. Here, it was evaluated the effect of a 10-day consumption of a Jerte Valley cherry-based nutraceutical product (patent no. ES2342141B1), which contains high levels of tryptophan, serotonin and melatonin, on the activity/rest rhythms of young and old rats (Rattus norvegicus) and ringdoves (Streptopelia risoria) as representatives of animals with nocturnal and diurnal habits, respectively, and its possible relationship with the serum levels of melatonin and glucose. Total diurnal and nocturnal activity pulses were logged at control, during, and up to 3 days after the treatment. Melatonin and glucose were measured with ELISA and testing kits respectively. In both young and old rats, the intake of the cherry nutraceutical decreased diurnal activity, whereas nocturnal activity increased. The opposite effect was observed for ringdoves. The treatment increased the circulating levels of melatonin in both species and restored the amplitude of the activity rhythm in the old animals to that of the non-treated young groups. The consumption of a Jerte Valley cherry-based nutraceutical product may help to counteract the impaired activity/rest rhythm found in aged animals.

Body weight gain in rats by a high-fat diet produces chronodisruption in activity/inactivity circadian rhythm

“…These symptoms may be reductions in sleep time and sleep quality, increases in activity during the sleep period, and reduced MESOR and amplitude of melatonin levels, among others. But sleep parameters impaired by chronodisruption can improve following an increase in melatonin levels (Bravo et al, 2013b;Delgado et al, 2012;Paredes et al, 2006). Our results are coherent with these published findings since we observed a progressive increase in diurnal activity (sleep period) in the rats fed a high-fat diet while their body weight was increasing.…”

Bridging the Reciprocal Gap between Sleep and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: A Review of the Evidence, Potential Mechanisms, Implications, and Directions for Future Work

“…The intake of cherry nutraceutical product decreased diurnal activity and increased nocturnal activity in young and old rats (representative of nocturnal animals). In contrast, the opposite effects were observed for ringdoves (representative of diurnal animals), indicating that effects are modulated depending on the nature of the animals’ circadian rhythms [208]. The previous animal studies showed that polyphenol administration modulated the circadian system through circadian rhythms, clocks, and the sleep/wake cycle with dose and time dependency and possible sex differences providing insight that polyphenols may influence sleep measures.…”

Dietary Sources and Bioactivities of Melatonin

“…Additionally, it was well documented that the consumption of melatonin-rich foods may induce the potential health impacts by significantly increasing the serum melatonin concentration and antioxidant capacity in human beings [24]. Therefore, those foods containing melatonin are now popular and regarded as promising nutraceuticals [25,26,27]. …”