Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07 supports lactose digestion in vitro and in randomized, placebo- and lactase-controlled clinical trials.

Background: Probiotics may alleviate lactose maldigestion.

Objectives: The objective was to select a probiotic with high lactase activity and compare it with lactase and placebo in clinical trials.

Methods: Bacterial cultures were screened for lactase activity in a model of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Flaxseed Mucilage (IQP-LU-104) Reduces Body Weight in Overweight and Moderately Obese Individuals in a 12-week, Three-Arm, Double-Blind, Randomized, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit and tolerability of two dosages of a proprietary flaxseed mucilage (IQP-LU-104) in reducing body weight in overweight and moderately obese individuals.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, bi-center trial, 108 participants (body mass index [BMI] 25-<35 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to receive either IQP-LU-104 high dose (104HD), IQP-LU-104 low dose (104LD), or placebo. Participants were instructed to consume 1 sachet of the investigational product (containing IQP-LU-104 or matching placebo) before or with main meals twice daily and to follow a balanced but hypocaloric diet (20% reduction of individual's daily energy requirements) for 12 weeks.

Investigation of the natural supplement IQP-AS-119 for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in marathon race participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Intense and prolonged exercise leads to immune suppression, causing upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). A proprietary standardized dietary supplement, IQP-AS-119 has been previously developed to aid immune responses under such conditions. The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of IQP-AS-119 on marathon runners.

Effects of aged garlic extract on arterial elasticity in a placebo-controlled clinical trial using EndoPAT™ technology.

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in the industrialized world, with the main risk factors being elevated blood pressure and blood lipid levels, leading to arterial stiffness and arteriosclerosis. In this study, we examined the effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) on arterial elasticity, using the EndoPAT™ technology in subjects with slightly elevated blood pressure. This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examined 57 subjects over a period of 12 weeks, with EndoPAT™ measurements taken at 0 and 12 weeks; in addition, changes in blood pressure were analyzed.

A Dose-Escalation Study Demonstrates the Safety and Tolerability of Cellobiose in Healthy Subjects.

The disaccharide and innovative ingredient cellobiose, consisting of two -glucose molecules linked by a (1→4) bond is the main component of cellulose. Cellobiose can be used within a wide variety of foodstuffs and functional foods as a low-caloric bulking agent or as a substitute for lactose. For purposes of industrial large-scale production, cellobiose is produced by an enzymatic reaction in which sucrose and glucose are converted to cellobiose and fructose.

Erratum to "Double-Blind, Randomized, Three-Armed, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Investigation to Evaluate the Benefit and Tolerability of Two Dosages of IQP-AE-103 in Reducing Body Weight in Overweight and Moderately Obese Subjects".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/3412952.].

Sleep Promoting Effects of IQP-AO-101: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Exploratory Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical benefit and tolerability of IQP-AO-101 in healthy subjects with sleep complaints.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved fifty subjects with sleep complaints. Subjects with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score between 6 and 15 were randomized to receive either IQP-AO-101 or placebo for 6 weeks, following a run-in period of one week.

Rosa canina - Rose hip pharmacological ingredients and molecular mechanics counteracting osteoarthritis - A systematic review.

Background: The successful use of rose hip for the treatment of osteoarthritis is well documented. Several randomized placebo controlled double-blind studies, as mono or combination therapy, have demonstrated treatment efficacy as well as excellent tolerability.

Purpose: This review focuses on the molecular mechanism underlying the clinical effects of rose hip in osteoarthritis (OA).

Double-Blind, Randomized, Three-Armed, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Investigation to Evaluate the Benefit and Tolerability of Two Dosages of IQP-AE-103 in Reducing Body Weight in Overweight and Moderately Obese Subjects.

Objective: This study was performed to determine the efficacy and tolerability/safety of IQP-AE-103 on body weight reduction in overweight to moderately obese adults.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved one hundred and eight subjects (BMI between 25 and 35 kg/m) that were randomly assigned to either the low-dose or the high-dose IQP-AE-103 group, or the placebo group. Following a 2-week run-in period, subjects received two capsules of investigational product after three daily main meals for 12 weeks.

A Rosa canina - Urtica dioica - Harpagophytum procumbens/zeyheri Combination Significantly Reduces Gonarthritis Symptoms in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study.

The special formulation MA212 (Rosaxan) is composed of rosehip ( L.) puree/juice concentrate, nettle ( L.) leaf extract, and devil's claw ( DC.

Evaluation of Benefit and Tolerability of IQP-CL-101 (Xanthofen) in the Symptomatic Improvement of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Double-Blinded, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder of unknown aetiology. There is currently no known cure, and pharmacological interventions are usually targeting symptomatic relief, where natural and herbal remedies also play a role. This study aimed to evaluate the benefit and tolerability of IQP-CL-101 in symptomatic IBS relief.

Spectral Remittance and Transmittance of Visible and Infrared-A Radiation in Human Skin-Comparison Between in vivo Measurements and Model Calculations.

The aim of the study was to assess the interindividual variability of spectral remittance and spectral transmittance of visible and infrared-A radiations interacting with human skin and subcutaneous tissue, and direct measurements were taken in vivo using healthy persons of different skin color types. Up to wavelengths of about 900 nm, both spectral remittance and spectral transmittance depended significantly on the individual contents of melanin and hemoglobin in the skin, whereas the contents of water and lipids mainly determined spectral slopes of both characteristics of interaction for wavelengths above about 900 nm. In vivo measured data of spectral transmittance showed approximately similar decreases with tissue thickness between about 900 nm and 1100 nm as compared with model data which were calculated using spectral absorption and scattering coefficients of skin samples in vitro published by different authors.

Short-term UVB irradiation significantly increases vitamin D serum concentration in obese patients: a clinical pilot study.

Purpose: Deficiency of vitamin D is very common in obese people and treatment by oral supplementation is not effective in all patients. This exploratory pilot study investigated the influence of different doses of short-term ultraviolet B irradiation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D (1,25D) levels in obese compared to normal weight subjects and obese controls.

Methods: Participants with skin types II and III (Fitzpatrick skin classification) were assigned to six groups including four intervention groups receiving irradiation (three groups of obese and one group of normal weight subjects) and two control groups without treatment (obese and normal weight).

Sustained Increase of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Healthy Young Women during Wintertime after Three Suberythemal UV Irradiations-The MUVY Pilot Study.

Objectives: Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is a health problem prevalent not only in the elderly but also in young adults. The primary objective of our observational pilot study "MUVY" (Mood, UVR, Vitamin D in Young women) was to test both the short-term and long-term effects of a series of three suberythemal UV radiation (UVR) exposures on the VitD status and well-being of young healthy women during winter in a repeat measure design.

Methods: 20 healthy young women (Fitzpatrick skin types I-III, aged 21-25 years) received three full body broad band UVR exposures with an escalating erythemally weighted dose schedule during one week in winter, and completed self-report questionnaires monitoring symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and affective state/well-being (Profile of Mood States, POMS) at baseline and three days after the last UVR exposure.

Efficacy and tolerability of hydrogen carbonate-rich water for heartburn.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of mineral water with a high content of hydrogen carbonate in patients with heartburn.

Methods: This open, single-center, single-arm clinical pilot study enrolled 50 patients, 18-64 years old, who had been suffering from heartburn at least twice a week for at least 3 mo before entering the study. Pharmacological treatment of heartburn was not permitted, and patients with severe organic diseases were excluded.

Weight Maintenance with Litramine (IQP-G-002AS): A 24-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Litramine (IQP-G-002AS) was shown to be effective and safe for weight loss in overweight and obese subjects. However, long-term effectiveness on maintenance of body weight loss has yet to be ascertained.

Objective: To assess effect of Litramine on maintenance of body weight loss.

A Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Litramine IQP-G-002AS, an Opuntia ficus-indica Derived Fiber for Weight Management.

Sedentary lifestyle and caloric overconsumption are the key determinants of the escalating obesity prevalence. Reducing dietary fat absorption may help to induce a negative energy balance and thus help in managing weight problem. Apart from approved drug therapies, weight problems may also be aided with alternative and natural treatments.

Effects of cactus fiber on the excretion of dietary fat in healthy subjects: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical investigation.

Background: Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) fiber was shown to promote weight loss in a 3-month clinical investigation. As demonstrated by in vitro studies, cactus fiber binds to dietary fat and its use results in reduced absorption, which in turn leads to reduced energy absorption and ultimately the reduction of body weight.

Objective: The objective of our study was to elucidate the dietary fat binding capacity of cactus fiber through determination of fecal fat excretion in healthy volunteers.

Effects of water-filtered infrared-A and of heat on cell death, inflammation, antioxidative potential and of free radical formation in viable skin--first results.

The effects of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) and of convective heat on viability, inflammation, inducible free radicals and antioxidative power were investigated in natural and viable skin using the ex vivo Bovine Udder System (BUS) model. Therefore, skin samples from differently treated parts of the udder of a healthy cow were analyzed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) measurement and by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Neither cell viability, the inflammation status, the radical status or the antioxidative defence systems of the skin were significantly affected by wIRA applied within 30 min by using an irradiance of 1900 W m(-2) which is of relevance for clinical use, but which exceeded the maximum solar IR-A irradiance at the Earth's surface more than 5 times and which resulted in a skin surface temperature of about 45 °C without cooling and of about 37 °C with convective cooling by air ventilation.

A Preliminary Study on the Relationship between Platelet Serotonin Transporter Functionality, Depression, and Fatigue in Patients with Untreated Chronic Hepatitis C.

Objective and Methods. Although the interaction between fatigue and depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV) has been recognized, the biological correlates of this observation have yet to be reported. We addressed this issue by examining serotonin transporter- (SERT-) driven [(14)C]-serotonin uptake rate (SUR) and serotonin content in platelets of 65 untreated HCV patients and 65 healthy control subjects (HCS).

Cerebroprotective effect of preoperative dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

Objectives: Reduction of cognitive function is a possible side effect after coronary artery surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We investigated the effect of single versus dual antiplatelet therapy on cognitive performance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with CPB.

Methods: 50 consecutive CABG patients with preoperative intake of aspirin were compared to 49 consecutive patients with aspirin and clopidogrel.

Effect of different pump heads for CPB on early cognitive outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: Reduction of cognitive function is a possible side effect after coronary artery surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We investigated the effect of roller versus centrifugal pumps for CPB on cognitive performance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: 50 consecutive CABG patients operated with centrifugal pump were compared to 50 roller pump patients matched for age and duration of CPB.

Transfemoral versus conventional aortic valve implantation--early postoperative cognitive outcome.

Objectives: Reduction of cognitive function is a possible side effect after cardiac surgery. We investigated the effect of transfemoral versus conventional aortic valve replacement on cognitive performance early after surgery.

Methods: 50 patients with transfemoral, catheter-based aortic valve implantations were compared to 50 patients with conventional surgical aortic valve replacement.

Cerebroprotective effect of piracetam in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Objectives: Reduction of cognitive function is a possible side effect after the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during cardiac surgery. Since it has been proven that piracetam is cerebroprotective in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, we investigated the effects of piracetam on the cognitive performance of patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Methods: Patients scheduled for elective open heart surgery were randomized to the piracetam or placebo group in a double-blind study.

Serotonin transporter activity and serotonin concentration in platelets of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: effect of gender.

Background: In the past decade, a strong argument has been built for the role of serotonin (5HT) and the serotonin transporter (SERT) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, it is still not clear how SERT contributes to this clinically heterogeneous disease. The present study addressed this issue by implementing platelet (plt) markers of SERT activity in the assessment protocol.