GSH Supplementation on Cold/Flu Symptoms in Older Healthy Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A randomized, double blind placebo-controlled parallel intervention in adults over the age of 50 will be performed. Participants will receive a supplement capsule containing placebo (Crystalline Cellulose) or 500mg of Setria® Glutathione to eat for 120 days. Glutathione is hypothesized to replenish the body's reserves that may be depleted through natural aging process, poor diet, or due to the detoxification process for drugs. The primary end point is the number of healthy days experienced during cold and flu season. Secondary endpoints include cellular and biochemical measures from blood samples taken before and after the study.

Detailed Description
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The long term goal of this investigation is to understand how food components improve immune function, both in its ability to respond to pathogens and its ability to turn off when the response is no longer needed. The goal of this application is to examine mechanisms by which glutathione improves immune cells after consumption. The central hypothesis is that glutathione improves redox status within the cell, thereby improving cell function and increasing the number of healthy days experienced by the participants. After obtaining informed consent, human participants will receive 500 mg/day of Setria® Glutathione or placebo for 120 days. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), neutrophils and serum will be obtained from blood draws before and after the 120 days. A daily diary of illness will be kept by each participant and will record any incidence of illness, the number of symptoms per incidence, and the number of days in which symptoms are present. This study is powered on the basis that over 120 days, the glutathione-supplemented group would experience 3% more healthy days compared to the placebo group. The analysis indicated 60 people per group. Timeline should be between mid-January to May because the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that this is the cold and flu season (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm) in the southwest part of the country.

Official Title
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Oral Glutathione Supplementation on Cold/Flu Symptoms in Older Healthy Adults

Conditions
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Improvement in Immune Cell Function in Elderly Humans

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Setria glutathione supplement
* Dietary Supplement: Crystalline Cellulose


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: generally healthy must have had at least one cold during the previous year age 50-75 must discontinue other dietary supplement use Exclusion Criteria: on arthritis medication on hypertension medication severe allergies compromised immune system high cholesterol, heart failure, angina, etc. diagnoses of diabetes or metabolic syndrome

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Crystalline Cellulose<br>looks like and is given in the same way as the experimental treatment but contains no active ingredient | Dietary Supplement: Crystalline Cellulose<br>* 500 mg/day capsule taken in the morning<br>* Other names: Placebo;|
| Experimental: Glutathione supplement<br>500 mg/day Setria glutathione supplement | Dietary Supplement: Setria glutathione supplement<br>* 500 mg/day capsule taken in the morning<br>* Other names: Setria;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Severity and frequency of Cold / Flu symptoms | Participants will record any cold / flu symptoms in log throughout the study duration | 120 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improvement of immune cell function | Increased neutrophil respiratory burst; IFN-gamma and other cytokine production measurements; γδ-T cell proliferation in mitogen-stimulated ex vivo culture | 120 days |