Natural immunity boosters: Clinical trial reports

Background 

Health workers are the most important part of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, which has affected the whole world. They are being constantly exposed to COVID-19 infections; hence their health becomes a major concern. As for patients, immunity is vital for health workers also to a greater extend. Malnutrition increases morbidity, mortality, and impacts the health care system significantly. A more economic and easily available way of preventing infections is to build the body’s natural immunity using naturally available products rich in Vitamin A, B, C, D and minerals like zinc, copper, selenium, calcium, magnesium etc. Natural products boosting immunity has become a pivot for many research studies and many clinical studies are being carried out with different natural products whether it may be the active ingredient, or the different parts of a natural product such as leaves, fruits, flowers, roots etc. The most common way to enhance the natural immunity of humans which appears in today’s busy world is a health supplement in the form of a health drink, energy drink, capsules, tablets etc. Most widely consumed are health drinks. Health drinks containing proper nutrients can really work miraculously as is evident from several clinical trials. ¹ In the below study efficacy of health drink MULMINA was evaluated.

Study design and Method

To evaluate the effect of health drink, 120 patients including health workers were included in the study and divided into three groups. 

Group І (n=40): Patients received health drink A:  MULMINA (Mango), twice a day (Treatment A)

Group II (n=40): Patients received health drink B : MULMINA (Amla) ,twice a day (Treatment B)

Group III (n=40): Standard Treatment (C).

The blood samples of these groups were collected to study the safety and efficacy of the health drinks were evaluated on 0 days (before the start of heath drink), 14th day, and 28th day and ELISA kits were used to analyze the plasma for estimating serum immune biomarkers and serum antioxidant markers.

Results

Parameters analyzed for serum antioxidant markers included Antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT): Glutathione (GSH) count, Malondialdehyde (MDA) count and parameters evaluated for serum immune biomarkers included serum amyloid A (SAA), Cytokine interleukin 4(IL-4), Cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and C- reactive protein (CRP). 

A notable increase in SOD, CAT, and GSH values was observed by the 28th day with both the health drinks as compared with the control group with standard treatment. Malondialdehyde (MDA) value reduced in all the groups having the health drink.

An increase in SAA was observed in all the participants in the study. Group A vs. C and group B vs. C showed a significant increase (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference observed in cytokine values from day 0 till day 28 in patients being treated with the health drinks among groups A vs. B. Similarly, there were no significant increase in cytokine interleukin 4 (IL-4) levels from day 0 to day 28 in both groups treated with health drinks. On the 14th day, levels of cytokine IL-6 were more, but the values were restored to normal on continuous consumption of the health drinks till day 28. Health drink showed a mild reduction. Treatment with health drink A mildly reduced the IFN-γ values in healthcare workers, while health drink B showed a drastic reduction in IFN-γ in healthcare workers by day 28.

Discussion

Under normal physiological conditions, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is useful and plays a favourable role in important signalling pathways required for essential cellular functions. An imbalance in the systemic ROS levels increases and becomes surplus as compared to the antioxidant buffering capacity of the cell, which finally leads to oxidative stress causing damage to cellular macromolecules like lipids, proteins and carbohydrates resulting in alterations in their functions. Oxidation of membrane lipids results in the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Oxidative stress could increase redox signaling, activation of transcription factors, stimulation activity of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cascades DNA damage, and also stress-dependent kinases induction. The increased ROS could thus have a deteriorating effect on COVID patients as it could lead to lung damage and ADRs. Cecchini et al reported that elevated levels of oxidative stress were reported in COVID-19 patients could cause DNA oxidation and other downstream. The current study showed a reduction in Malondialdehyde (MDA) value and a significant increase in the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA), SOD, CAT, and GSH values indicate the effectiveness of the health drinks as an antioxidant and effective in providing protection against oxidative stress. ²

Cytokines play important role in mediating the inflammatory response. Cytokines like IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1, IFN-γ and TGF-β help to mediate inflammation, while others such as IL-4 and IL-10 have an anti-inflammatory effect. Cytokine storm syndrome may occur in severe COVID-19 patients characterized by an increase in IL-2, IL-7, G-CSF, CXCL10, MCP-1, MIP-1α,TNF-α, and IL-6, suggesting severe hyper inflammation-causing lung damage. The present study showed a significant reduction in the IL6/IFNγ ratio in all patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) is formed by the liver and its level increases when inflammation is there. In the present study, a reduction in the values of C- reactive protein (CRP) was seen which proves that health drinks had excellent anti-inflammatory activity.^3,4

Conclusion

The above clinical studies are evident that both the MULMINA health drinks (MULMINA MANGO and MULMINA AMLA) are rich in ingredients having potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the severity in COVID-19 patients including the health workers. These health drinks thus can serve as an daily alternative to balance the body’s recommended daily dose of macro and micronutrients and help in speedy recovery of infected health workers as well as boost the natural innate immunity and take care of the whole health workers community.

References:

1. Ranil Jayawardena, a., b,∗ Piumika Sooriyaarachchi,b,c Michail Chourdakis,d Chandima Jeewandara,e and Priyanga Ranasinghef. Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2020, 14(4), Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020 July-August; 2014(2024): 2367–2382.
2. Gilead Ebiegberi Forcados, A. M., Olusola Olalekan Oladipo, Sunday Makama and Clement Adebajo Meseko. Metabolic Implications of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Process in SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis: Therapeutic Potential of Natural Antioxidants. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 2021, Vo 11 , Article 654813, 1-11.
3. Francisco Alejandro Lagunas-Rangel, V. C.-V. High IL-6/IFN-γ ratio could be associated with severe disease in COVID-19 patients, J Med Virol. 2020, 92(1), 789–1790.
4. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/c-reactive-protein-test