Effects of an Adaptogen-Based Supplement on Stress Parameters in Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

The effects of an adaptogen-based dietary supplement on stress indicators and stress perception were evaluated in health volunteers using a double-bind, placebo-controlled protocol. Seventy-seven healthy 24-60 year old male and female participants were enrolled, with 74 completing the study. Participants were given a 28-day supply of the supplement or the corresponding placebo and instructed to take 1 oz each morning 30 min. before breakfast. The supplement was a proprietary blend of 10 adaptogens including Eleurtherococcus, Schizandra and Rhodiola extracts, plus B vitamins. On the morning of enrollment, the participants completed a stress perception survey, had blood samples drawn for a highly sensitive C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), cortisol and homocysteine, and returned to the clinic after 28 days to repeat the stress perception survey and blood tests. A 40% reduction (p <0.05) in the number of participants with abnormally elevated HS-CRP in the supplement group compared to the placebo group was observed. Furthermore, there was a 30% reduction in levels of HS-CRP in the supplemented group relative to the placebo group. Only one of the 5 subjects (20%) with abnormal (elevated) serum homocysteine levels remained elevated after 4 weeks of supplementation. In contrast, 4 of the 6 (66%) subjects in the control group remained elevated after 4 weeks. Five stress perception parameters were significantly reduced (10-20%) in the supplemented group compared to two parameters in the placebo group. The results of this study indicate that the adaptogen/vitamin blend is effective at reducing subjective (perception survey) and objective (HS-CRP) stress measures compared to the placebo.