Raising BDNF Levels (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)

Coffee fruit, also known as coffeeberry, a relatively small, round-shaped stone fruit produced by the coffee plant, has recently attracted a lot of scientific attention, due to its reported neuroprotective and neurocognitive benefits. If you are one of the many individuals who have been supplementing with this natural ingredient, you have most likely noticed various improvements in your cognitive abilities and overall well-being. Well, according to published clinical studies, there are a bunch of good reasons why that happens. Let us dive in together to see how coffee fruit extract interacts with our brains and bodies and what are the possible benefits of this interplay.

Studies show coffee fruit raises your levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a fancy word we use to describe a certain protein that is critical for the maintenance of one of the most important elements for our survival – our neurons. Your neurons are the primary reason why you are able to read this text, decide whether or not you will eat another piece of chocolate, know how to ride the bicycle, recall the vacations you had last year, play Call of Duty or even dream at night. In order to execute any of these actions efficiently, your neurons need to stay healthy, and BDNF’s purpose in life is to guarantee that this will be the case.

As studies suggest, coffee fruit can have a direct effect on BDNF. Interestingly, even at a small dose, coffee berry has been shown to rapidly boost BDNF levels in the body, even by 140% within an hour. For your information, in cases of depression, anxiety, or insomnia, BDNF levels tend to be lower. This is yet another example of how our neural system can be impaired in cases of mental disorders. It appears that the amount of procyanidins contained in coffee fruit is the primary explanation for this massive increase of BDNF in our bodies. Therefore, as CF leads to elevated levels of this protective protein in our bodies, it is only natural to notice pro-cognitive effects in your everyday life when you consume it.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If pregnant or under a doctor’s care consult your physician.

References

Reyes-Izquierdo T, et al. Modulatory effect of coffee fruit extract on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects. Br J Nutr. 2013;110(3):420-425. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512005338.

Reyes-Izquierdo T, et al. 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. Br J Nutr. 2013.

Pandey KB, Syed IR. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2009;2(5):270-278. doi: 10.4161/oxim.2.5.9498.

Mullen W, et al. The antioxidant and chlorogenic acid profiles of whole coffee fruits are influenced by the extraction procedures. J Agric Food Chem. 2011;59(8):3754-3762. doi: 10.1021/jf200122m.

Kennedy, D., & Haskell, C. (2016). Investigation of acute mood and cognitive performance effects of beverages containing phenolics in healthy adults (p. 44). Newcastle upon Tyne: Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University.

Jack Cotter, Neil Fawkes & Neil Shah (2021): Coffee fruit extract – a nutritional stimulator of endogenous BDNF, Nutritional Neuroscience, DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2021.1913953