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Ullah H, Sommella E, Minno AD, Piccinocchi R, Buccato DG, Lellis LFD, Riccioni C, Baldi A, El-Seedi HR, Khalifa SAM, Piccinocchi G, Campiglia P, Sacchi R, Daglia M. Combination of Chemically Characterized Pomegranate Extract and Hydrophilic Vitamins against Prolonged Fatigue: A Monocentric, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Nutrients 2023; 15:2883. [PMID: 37447210 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged fatigue is associated with non-pathological causes and lacks an established therapeutic approach. The current study is aimed at assessing the efficacy of a new food supplement (Improve™) based on a chemically characterized pomegranate extract and hydro-soluble vitamins (B complex and C). UHPLC-HRMS analysis of pomegranate extract showed the presence of 59 compounds, with gallotannins and ellagitannins being the most abundant phytochemicals. For the clinical study, 58 subjects were randomized into two groups, 1 and 2 (n = 29, each), which received either the food supplement or placebo. The effects of the food supplement against fatigue were assessed via validated questionnaires, recorded at time intervals t0 (at baseline), t1 (after 28 days), t2 (56 days), and t3 (after follow-up) in combination with the analysis of biochemical markers at t0 and t2. Fatigue severity scale (FSS) questionnaire scores were significantly decreased at the t2 and t3 time intervals in subjects treated with the food supplements, while the effect of the food supplement on a 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) was not considerable. Moreover, the food supplement did not significantly affect biochemical parameters associated with fatigue and stress conditions. This study shows that the food supplement tested reduces prolonged fatigue following two months of supplementation in healthy subjects with mild prolonged fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad Ullah
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Eduardo Sommella
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Minno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Piccinocchi
- Level 1 Medical Director Anaesthesia and Resuscitation A. U. O. Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniele Giuseppe Buccato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandra Baldi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Hesham R El-Seedi
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah 42351, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaden A M Khalifa
- Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Capio Saint Göran's Hospital, Sankt Göransplan 1, 112 19 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gaetano Piccinocchi
- Comegen S.c.S., Società Cooperativa Sociale di Medici di Medicina Generale, Viale Maria Bakunin 41, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno, Via De Renzi 50, 84125 Salerno, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Applied Statistic Unit, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Daglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
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Chemical Characterization and Preliminary Evaluation of the Efficacy and Tolerability of a Food Supplement Based on Pomegranate Extract, B Vitamins, and Vitamin C against Prolonged Fatigue in Healthy Consumers. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10020208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatigue, characterized by periods of exhaustion that interfere with normal activities and negatively affect quality of life, can be classified as prolonged fatigue (or short-term fatigue, SF) or chronic fatigue. Vitamin deficiency and chronic inflammation seem to be possible causes of fatigue. Due to the unavailability of effective remedies that attenuate fatigue and provide consumer satisfaction, the aim of this investigation is to assess whether a commercial food supplement consisting of pomegranate extract with known anti-inflammatory activity, B vitamins, and vitamin C can help fight SF. To this end, the chemical composition of whole fruit pomegranate dry extract was determined through a RP-UHPLC–HRMS method, which indicated the presence of ellagitannins, gallotannins, and organic and phenolic acids. In a survey of consumers of food supplements aimed at reducing fatigue, 78 subjects (21 men and 57 women) were recruited for one month to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of this food supplement through validated questionnaires for assessing fatigue level and quality of life. The consumers reported a significant improvement in their conditions without adverse effects over this time period. Although further studies are needed, these preliminary data suggest the capacity of a combination of pomegranate extract and hydrosoluble vitamins to alleviate SF.
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