Effect of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) Consumption on Antioxidant Capacity and Inflammation in Patients Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Pilot Study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of black mulberry (Morus nigra) on antioxidant capacity and inflammation in patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). We randomly assigned older adults with mild-to-moderate AD (n=44) to the intervention or control group. An intervention group was administered 20 g of black mulberry concentrate daily for 12 weeks. This study was completed by 20 participants in the intervention group and 19 in the control group. At the beginning and end of the study, the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme, Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), and oxidative stress index were determined. To evaluate inflammation, serum Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1 beta) and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-?) levels were measured. Furthermore, 3-day food records were obtained and dTAC was calculated on the basis of oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC), Trolox® equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), Total Radical Trapping Antioxidant Parameter (TRAP), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Total Phenolic (TP). There were no significant changes in SOD, TGF-?, IL-1 and TAS serum levels from baseline to the end of the study. However, a statistically significant increase was found in the TOS and oxidative stress index levels for only control group (p<0.05). There were significant increases in the intervention group for dietary T-ORAC, H-ORAC, TEAC, TRAP, FRAP-2, FRAP-3, and dTAC (p=0.003). However, no significant relationship was found between serum inflammation markers and dietary antioxidants or dTAC. In conclusion, black mulberry had a limited effect on antioxidant capacity and inflammation in older adults with mild-to-moderate AD. © (2025), (Sidas Medya A.S.). All right reserved.