Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40508019›Full record

Trial reportInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

A Plant-Based Dietary Supplement Exhibits Significant Effects on Markers of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Immune Response in Subjects Recovering from Respiratory Viral Infection: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Study Using Vitamin C as a Positive Control.

Bruno Fink, John M Hunter, Zbigniew Pietrzkowski, Richard Fink, Coy Brunssen, Henning Morawietz, Boris Nemzer

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Bruno FinkNoxygen Science Transfer & Diagnostics GmbH, 79215 Elzach, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1504-5132
John M HunterVDF FutureCeuticals, Inc., Momence, IL 60954, USA.
Zbigniew PietrzkowskiVDF FutureCeuticals, Inc. Irvine, CA 92606, USA.
Richard FinkNoxygen Science Transfer & Diagnostics GmbH, 79215 Elzach, Germany.ORCID 0009-0006-5878-0646
Coy BrunssenDivision of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TUD University of Technology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Henning MorawietzDivision of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TUD University of Technology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Boris NemzerVDF FutureCeuticals, Inc., Momence, IL 60954, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7001-9837

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Respiratory viruses continue to present serious health challenges to human wellness. Growing evidence suggests that the more severe and damaging effects and symptoms of influenza, rhinovirus (RV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 may primarily result from their common ability to disorganize the body's healthy immune response. The simultaneous over-stimulation of several reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways and concurrent suppression of bioavailable Nitic Oxide (NO) contribute to an immune disbalance that can lead to cellular oxidative distress and an excessive inflammatory response. This study evaluated the real-time, acute ability of a single, orally administered 50 mg encapsulated dose of a plant-based dietary supplement ("PB-Blend"), compared to 1000 mg of Vitamin C as a positive control, to modulate multiple ROS associated with a dampened immune response, as well as NO and other markers of inflammation, in a cohort recovering from a moderate course of COVID-19. This randomized, double-blind study was performed on 28 individuals 18-24 days after a moderate COVID-19 infection. Participants were orally supplemented with a single encapsulated dose of either 50 mg of PB-Blend or 1000 mg Vitamin C as a positive control. Changes in the levels of bioavailable NO (measured as circulating NOHb) were assessed, as well as the ex vivo cellular formation of mitochondrial, NOX2-, iNOS-, and TNFα-dependent ROS. All parameters were measured in real time before ingestion (baseline), and then at 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after administration. ROS were measured using a portable electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer. Inflammatory, immunity (hsCRP and TNFα plasma levels), interleukin (IL1, IL6, IL8, and IL10), cytokine (IFNγ, TNFα, and NF-κB), and immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG, and IgE) profiles were also followed. In addition to laboratory and cell function investigations, we performed clinical cardio ergometry, blood O

Indexed as

Ascorbic AcidCOVID-19COVID-19 Drug TreatmentDietary SupplementsInflammationOxidative StressRespiratory Tract InfectionsAdultBiomarkersDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReactive Oxygen SpeciesSARS-CoV-2Ascorbic AcidBiomarkersReactive Oxygen Speciescellular metabolic activity (CMA)circulating NOHbCOVID-19dietary supplement PB-blendendothelial dysfunctionflu seasonFMDinducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)influenzaphagocytic NADPH oxidaseROSseasonal virusuncoupled iNOSviral insult

Identifiers

PMID40508019
PMCPMC12153994

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.