Supplementing with a standardized black seed oil and astaxanthin oil were linked to fewer upper respiratory tract complaints and improved psychological mood state scores in a group of runners, who supplemented with the formula for three weeks prior and one week after running either a marathon or half-marathon. Further, supplementation with this combination of ingredients resulted in a more balanced microbiome in the athletes, according to a study published in the Scholarly Journal of Food and Nutrition.
 
The authors concluded that it the combination of ingredients potentially acted upon the gut-immune-brain axis in order to improve immune system vigilance and other measures of well-being.
 
Athletes tend to have an increased susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections and complaints due to the mental and physical stress of heavy exercise. Study volunteers received an oil blend of 500 mg of ThymoQuin, a branded black seed oil by TriNutra, and 8 mg of microalgae-derived astaxanthin oleoresin branded as AstaPure, or a placebo.
 
Total symptoms, including nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough, fatigue, headache, general malaise, and body aches, were 78% lower in the supplement group compared to placebo.
 
The supplement group saw an 11% greater score on the Global Mood State index and had 20% lower cortisol levels compared to the placebo group. The supplement group also had a 63% higher concentration of Streptococcus thermophilus in their gut, suggesting an improved immune system regulation to the authors.
 
“These results demonstrate a significant and meaningful bene­fit to balance the overall immune system and to aid in a better mood state,” said Morris Zelkha, CEO of TriNutra. “When the entire system is balanced, as evi­denced here in the Supplement group, there is a noticeable benefit for physical health and mental wellness. This study continues to add to the arsenal of published studies demonstrating ThymoQuin’s potent and powerful effects as a stand-alone ingredient and a powerful and synergistic ingredient.”