Impact of Canadian Haskap Berry Powder on Hypertension and Acuity in Women's Health

Impact of Haskalife(TM) Canadian Haskap Berry Powder Formulation on Hypertension and Acuity in Women's Health

Haskap berries are rich in cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), which has been shown in vitro to enhance endothelial function. Previous clinical studies suggest haskap berry supplementation may improve cognition, mood, blood pressure, and athletic performance, but research is limited. This trial aims to contribute to the growing body of evidence on the effects of haskap berry supplementation.

The trial is a 2-period, randomized, double-blinded, cross-over design lasting 16 weeks. During the first period (weeks 0-6), participants will receive either haskap berry powder or a control powder. A 4-week washout period follows (weeks 7-10), where no powder is consumed. In the second period (weeks 11-16), participants will receive the powder they did not consume in the first period.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Hypertension; Alertness
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Haskap Berry Powder; Other: Placebo Powder

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Manitoba
    • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N2
      • Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing and able to provide informed consent to participate in the trial;
• Biological female who is at least 35 years of age;
• A waist circumference of at least 35 inches;
• Average systolic blood pressure between 120 and 150 mmHg;
• Average diastolic blood pressure between 75 and 100 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Biological male;
• Gluten allergies, celiac disease, or gluten intolerance;
• Allergic to berries;
• Receiving chemotherapy;
• Use of medications containing pseudoephedrine or other anti-inflammatory drugs, and the use of cyclosporine or tacrolimusin;
• Cardiovascular diseases including stroke, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and transient ischemic attack within six months before screening;
• Inability to consume treatment product;
• Inability to provide written informed consent;
• Any of the following visual impairments: diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataract;
• Risk of epileptic seizures;
• Any form of motor impairments;
• Any visual impairments, uncorrected vision problems, eye disorders, or injuries
• Any medical condition, uncontrolled systemic disease, or concurrent illness that would hinder study compliance or jeopardize the participant's safety, based on the investigator's opinion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Haskap Powder then Control Powder; The participants will consume the haskap powder between weeks 0 and 6. A washout period will occur between weeks 7 and 10. After the washout period, the participants will consume the control powder between weeks 11 and 16. None of the participants or investigators will know the identities of the powder or the participants' allocations.	Other: Haskap Berry Powder; The participants will consume four packets (16g) of haskap berry powder. The powder can be consumed with other food products.; Other: Placebo Powder; The participants will consume four packets (24g) of placebo powder. The powder can be consumed with other food products.
Experimental: Control Powder then Haskap Powder.; The participants will consume the control powder between weeks 0 and 6. A washout period will occur between weeks 7 and 10. After the washout period, the participants will consume the haskap powder between weeks 11 and 16. None of the participants or investigators will know the identities of the powder or the participants' allocations.	Other: Haskap Berry Powder; The participants will consume four packets (16g) of haskap berry powder. The powder can be consumed with other food products.; Other: Placebo Powder; The participants will consume four packets (24g) of placebo powder. The powder can be consumed with other food products.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Systolic Blood Pressure	The participants' mean awake systolic blood pressure will be measured.	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reaction Time	Mean reaction time to a series of visual stimuli.	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16
Diastolic Blood Pressure	Mean awake diastolic blood pressure over 3 days	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure	Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured over three days.	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16.
Heart Rate	Mean heart rate measured over three days.	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16
Memory	Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test score	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical Chemistry	Blood Urea Nitrogen, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, creatine, albumin, alanine transaminase, and aspartate amino transferase	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16
Nutritional Intake	Total calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein	Three days before (1) week 0, (2) week 6, (3) week 11, and (4) week 16
Acceptability	Overall acceptability of the powder via feedback questionnaire	Weeks 6 and 16
Weight and waist circumference	Weight (kg) and waist circumference ( inches) will be measured.	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16
Physical Activity	The time spent doing (1) vigorous activities, (2) moderate activities, (3) walking, and (4) sedentary activities.	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16
Energy and Mood	Visual analog scale to measure energy and mood	Weeks 0, 6, 11, and 16

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Manitoba
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Semone Myrie, PhD, University of Manitoba

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 3, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 26, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 6, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 2, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 2, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 8, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 4, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 26, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Hypertension
• Other Study ID Numbers: HS26475 (B2024:057)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No