Does Whole Fruit Coffee Extract Promote Better Brain Health?

Whole fruit coffee extract (WFCE), also called whole coffee cherry extract or coffee fruit extract, is a supplement being studied for its potential effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cognitive performance and mental fatigue.

Not Your Morning Cup of Coffee

The name may lead you to believe that it is a caffeine supplement, but while related to coffee, it is different. Coffee beans are actually the seeds inside a fruit commonly called a coffee cherry. Traditional coffee production primarily uses the seeds, while the fruit's outer flesh and surrounding layers are separated during processing. WFCE is made from this fruit rather than from the coffee bean. Green coffee bean extract, by contrast, is derived from the unroasted seeds and is marketed as a separate supplement used for its chlorogenic acid content or weight-management effects.

WFCE is not primarily a caffeine supplement, but it may contain some caffeine, which is worth knowing if you are sensitive to it or have trouble sleeping.

Why BDNF?

BDNF is a protein involved in neuron survival and maintenance, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory processing. It has been described as "fertilizer for the brain," and lower levels in humans have been associated with cognitive decline and dementia, although findings on blood levels of BDNF are inconsistent.

What the Research Shows

Blood BDNF. In a small pilot study 25 healthy adults were divided into groups and given a single 100 mg dose of one of several materials. Among the 10 participants who took WFCE, plasma BDNF rose by a reported 143% relative to baseline within two hours. By comparison, grape seed extract and green coffee caffeine powder raised BDNF by only about 31%, a change that was not statistically significant. That contrast suggests the effect is not simply a matter of caffeine.

This is a promising result, but it comes with important limits. The study was small, tested a single dose, and was funded by the company that makes the proprietary extract used. In addition, blood BDNF is not the same as BDNF activity in the brain.

Brain activity and cognitive tasks. Another study assessed brain activity using neuroimaging and cognitive tasks after 71 participants took 100 mg of WFCE for 28 days. The researchers reported changes in functional connectivity and improvements in reaction time and in certain tasks involving working memory and response inhibition.

What We Don't Know Yet

While the shared studies are small and short in duration, the results do show further exploration could offer more solid evidence. Larger, longer trials are needed before we can say whether WFCE offers any protection against dementia, produces lasting cognitive improvements, or helps people who already have mild cognitive decline or dementia in ways that are meaningful in daily life.

Before You Consider a Supplement

Studies to date have generally used doses in the range of roughly 100 to 800 mg per day. Because WFCE can contain caffeine and may interact with certain medications, such as anticoagulants, stimulants or blood pressure medications, talk with your healthcare provider before adding it, especially if you take prescription medications.

The Bottom Line

The BDNF and brain task findings related to taking WFCE are intriguing, but they come from small, short-term studies, and we need independent, longer-term research to know whether they translate into real-world brain health benefits.

One modifiable lifestyle factor that has been proven to reliably increase BDNF in the brain is exercise. Both high intensity cardiovascular sessions and resistance training increase circulating BDNF as well as provide other health and longevity benefits.

So, while there have been some positive findings with whole fruit coffee extract supplementation for brain health, exercise plays a very reliable and supportive role. 

Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11279654/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31829793/