Objectives　The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of food containing asparagus extract（ONR-8）on alertness upon awakening and sleep quality on Monday in healthy participants with different sleep patterns between workdays and weekends, also known as“social jetlag”.
Methods　We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with 50 healthy participants who delayed their sleep onset time/offset time on weekends. In Period 1, participants were randomly assigned to take either ONR-8 or placebo for 2 weeks. In Period 2, the treatments were reversed in a crossover manner. We evaluated subjective sleep quality using the St. Mary's Hospital sleep questionnaire（SMH）and a visual analogue scale （VAS）, mood using the Japanese UWIST mood adjective checklist（JUMACL）, and a feeling of fatigue using a VAS on 3 Monday mornings during both Period 1 and Period 2. In addition, health-related QOL was estimated by SF-36 and objective sleep parameters were evaluated by actigraphy for 1 week prior to intake and continuously during the study period.
Results　The SMH score for the question regarding alertness“How clear-headed did you feel after getting up this morning?”and the VAS score for sleep quality during the ONR-8 intake period were significantly improved compared to the placebo intake period. Although no significant difference was observed in mood, the VAS score for a feeling of fatigue tended to be improved during the ONR-8 intake period. Mental health subscore of SF-36 was significantly better during the ONR-8 intake period than the placebo intake period. Actigraphy data showed that sleep offset time on weekends was significantly earlier during the ONR-8 intake period. In addition, there were no adverse clinical events throughout the study period.
Conclusions　These findings suggest that ONR-8 improved alertness upon awakening and sleep quality, and had a tendency to improve a feeling of fatigue on Monday following delayed weekend sleep timing. Furthermore, it appeared to reduce sleep-wake rhythm disturbance. These results suggest that ONR-8 has the potential to provide good Monday morning conditions and avoid Monday morning blues.