Subjects and their description: Study protocol “Testing the effects of the nutritional supplement ŽI Polyphenols on hematological, endocrine and immunological parameters of blood;

The presented document is used to briefly describe the principle, working procedures and preliminary results of the clinical study "Testing the effects of dietary supplement ZI Polyphenols on blood and sperm vitality parameters" (hereinafter "study") conducted at VC AgroBioTech SPU in cooperation with the Department of Animal Physiology SPU.

 The study covers a total of 50 individuals who expressed their intention to participate by signing the Informed Consent. The task of each proband was to consume the nutritional supplement "ŽI Polyphenol" on a daily basis for 12 weeks. Participants subsequently provided blood samples at time intervals: 0, 3, 6, 12 weeks from the start of the study (active phase) and 24 weeks from the start of the study (i.e. 12 weeks after the end of dietary supplement consumption / after the end of the active phase of the study).

 Blood was collected in EDTA-pretreated tubes, and the sample was used for baseline blood count analysis as well as blood plasma separation. The blood count was analyzed by an automatic hematology analyzer, the blood plasma was separated from the blood cake and used to analyze the endocrine and immunological parameters of the blood.

 HEMATOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

Preliminary results of hematological analysis suggest that regular use of the dietary supplement ŽI Polyphenols leads to a marked increase in erythrocytes (red blood cells), which is accompanied by an increase in hemoglobin concentration and an increase in hematocrit, the ratio between cell volume and whole blood volume. The concentration of white blood cells is increased due to the use of the supplement, but in the physiological range, indicating an increased immunity of the organism. An important aspect of consuming a nutritional supplement is also an increase in the concentration of platelets (platelets), indicating better blood clotting. From the results we can believe that regular use of the nutritional supplement ŽI Polyphenols has positive effects on the blood count of men, ensuring better use of oxygen and higher protection of the body against possible infections and injuries.

IMMUNOLOGICAL PROFILE OF BLOOD

 Cytokines are protein molecules that are formed and released by immunocompetent as well as non-immunological cells. Cytokines serve the cells of the immune system as "messengers" to "communicate" with each other. They manage and coordinate defenses against pathogens. They are therefore co-responsible for the immune response.

If the balance and thus the interaction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines is disturbed, severe disease occurs because either the pathogen cannot be destroyed or the immune response still persists, although the pathogen no longer exists. If e.g. cytokines supporting inflammatory processes, resp. if there are too few cytokines to inhibit inflammatory processes, chronic inflammation will occur. Diseases in which the balance of cytokines is disturbed are psoriasis, Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

 In the analyzes, we focused on pro-inflammatory markers, namely tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, IFN (Interferon) -gamma, IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6. We also focused on the quantification of C-reactive protein, which appears in the blood during the inflammatory reaction in the body as the so-called acute phase inflammatory reactant.

The analyzes show that the polyphenolic compounds show a mild anti-inflammatory effect. Despite statistically insignificant outcomes, a downward trend in post-inflammatory cytokines was observed, suggesting a calming and preventive effect of polyphenols on possible latent inflammatory processes in the body. At the same time, a significant decrease in CRP was observed, especially during long-term use of polyphenols.