Effect of Cordyceps Militaris Beverage on the Immune Response

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Cordyceps Militaris Beverage on the Immune Response

This study developed functional beverages from the submerged fermentation of Cordyceps militaris (FCM) and aimed to investigate the potential of FCM in male and female healthy volunteers in Phayao province, Thailand. To provide essential information for the development of healthy drink products.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Functional beverages from the submerged fermentation of Cordyceps militaris; Other: Fruit juice

Detailed Description

Healthy Thai males and females aged 25-60 were recruited at the School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, in 2022. Written informed consent was obtained from all research participants. A total of 40 participants were randomly assigned to one of the study groups (10 subjects each).

Inclusion Criteria :

1. Male and female adult participants aged 25-60 during the screening test.
2. No history of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reactions to drugs or herbal products.
3. Willing to participate in the project throughout the research program.

Exclusion Criteria :

1. Participants diagnosed with immune-mediated disease, nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, or liver or kidney disease.
2. Participants diagnosed with chronic health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, or renal failure, etc.
3. A body mass index (BMI) greater than 29.9 or less than 18 kg/m2.
4. Participants who were pregnant or lactating or intended to become pregnant during the trial period.
5. Participants who, within two weeks, ingested a drug or functional food that may affect the immunomodulatory effect of the test product.
6. Participants who had an alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) plasma level more than three times the guideline of the organization.

Laboratory research has been conducted to confirm the eligibility of research participants, including hematology, serum biochemistry, blood coagulation, and urinalysis. The participants who met the inclusion requirements were randomized into experimental groups. Twenty random numbers were generated using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0. Digits 1st-10th of each gender were numbered as the FCM group, and the remaining digits, 11th-20th of each gender, were numbered as the placebo group. All researchers, participants, and related medical staff were blinded to the intervention assignments throughout the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • Phayao
    • Nai Muang, Phayao, Thailand, 56000
      • University of Phayao

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female adult participants aged 25-60 during the screening test.
• No history of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reactions to drugs or herbal products.
• Willing to participate in the project throughout the research program.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants diagnosed with immune-mediated disease, nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, or liver or kidney disease.
• Participants diagnosed with chronic health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, or renal failure, etc.
• A body mass index (BMI) greater than 29.9 or less than 18 kg/m2.
• Participants who were pregnant or lactating or intended to become pregnant during the trial period.
• Participants who, within two weeks, ingested a drug or functional food that may affect the immunomodulatory effect of the test product
• Participants who had an alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) plasma level more than three times the guideline of the organization.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Male received functional beverages; Male received single oral dose of functional beverages from submerged fermentation of Cordyceps militaris (FCM)	Dietary supplement: Functional beverages from the submerged fermentation of Cordyceps militaris; The Cordyceps militaris submerged fermentation in fruit juice.; Other Names: FCM
Placebo Comparator: Male received placebo	Other: Fruit juice; Fruit juice is used as a placebo.; Other Names: Placebo
Experimental: Female received functional beverages; Female received single oral dose of functional beverages from submerged fermentation of Cordyceps militaris (FCM)	Dietary supplement: Functional beverages from the submerged fermentation of Cordyceps militaris; The Cordyceps militaris submerged fermentation in fruit juice.; Other Names: FCM
Placebo Comparator: Female received placebo	Other: Fruit juice; Fruit juice is used as a placebo.; Other Names: Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from the baseline on physical examination (Height)	The first visit was conducted within one week after screening. Every 15 days after taking the test substance, the subjects were examined for height (Centimeter).	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the physical examination (Weight)	The first visit was conducted within one week after screening. Every 15 days after taking the test substance, the subjects were examined for weight (Kilogram).	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the physical examination (Blood pressure)	The first visit was conducted within one week after screening. Every 15 days after taking the test substance, the subjects were examined for blood pressure using an automatic blood pressure monitor (mmHg).	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the physical examination (oxygen saturation)	The first visit was conducted within one week after screening. Every 15 days after taking the test substance, the subjects were examined for oxygen saturation using a fingertip pulse oximeter (%).	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the physical examination (adverse reactions)	The first visit was conducted within one week after screening. Every 15 days after taking the test substance, the subjects were examined for adverse reactions (Questionnaire).	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the immune response (NK cells)	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in natural killer cells (NK cells), measurement by using flow cytometry-based assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens; Cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3); Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4); Cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8); B-lymphocyte antigen CD19 (CD19) Measurement by using flow cytometry-based assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the immunoglobulins	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulin A (IgA); Immunoglobulin G (IgG); Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Measurement by using flow cytometry-based assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the inflammatory cytokines	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in inflammatory markers; Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β); Interleukin 6 (IL-6) Measurement by using ELISA assay.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the safety parameters (Complete blood count (CBC))	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in complete blood count (CBC), measurement by using colorimetric assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the safety parameters (Fasting blood glucose)	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in fasting blood glucose, measurement by using colorimetric assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the safety parameters (Plasma lipids)	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in safety parameters; Triglyceride; Total cholesterol Measurement by using colorimetric assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the safety parameters (Renal function)	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in safety parameters; Creatinine; Total protein Measurement by using colorimetric assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention
Change from the baseline on the safety parameters (Liver function)	Blood samples (10 ml for each time point) were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days. The fasting blood samples were collected into plain and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes and delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. This experiment examined the changes in safety parameters; Aspartate aminotransferase (AST); Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Measurement by using colorimetric assays.	At 0, 4 and 8 weeks after end of the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Phayao
• Collaborators: National Innovation Agency (NIA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Atcharaporn Ontawong, Ph.D., University of Phayao

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 22, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 10, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): February 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): November 18, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 18, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Healthy subjects; Cytokine; Immunomodulation; NK cell; Cordyceps militaris
• Other Study ID Numbers: UP-HEC 1.3/026/65

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Prohibited from laws (contracts)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No