Animal-sourced whey protein (WPr) is the most popular protein supplement among consumers and has been shown to improve muscle mass and strength. However, due to allergies, dietary restrictions/personal choices, and growing demand, alternative protein sources are warranted. Sedentary adults were randomized to pea protein (PPr) or WPr in combination with a weekly resistance training program for 84 days. Changes in whole-body muscle strength (WBMS) including handgrip, lower body, and upper body strength, body composition, and product perception were assessed. The safety outcomes included adverse events, vital signs, clinical chemistry, and hematology. There were no significant differences in the change in WBMS, muscle mass, or product perception and likability scores between the PPr and WPr groups. The participants supplemented with PPr had a 16.1% improvement in WBMS following 84 days of supplementation (p = 0.01), while those taking WPr had an improvement of 11.1% (p = 0.06). Both study products were safe and well-tolerated in the enrolled population. Eighty-four days of PPr supplementation resulted in improvements in strength and muscle mass comparable to WPr when combined with a resistance training program in a population of healthy sedentary adults. PPr may be considered as a viable alternative to animal-sourced WPr without sacrificing muscular gains and product enjoyment.

Background: Children attending school/daycare are at high risk of acute respiratory tract infections. EpiCor^TM postbiotic, derived from yeast fermentate, has been demonstrated to improve immune function in adults, reducing the incidence of cold/flu-like or allergy symptoms. As such, studies are warranted in children as available pharmaceutical options have unwanted side effects. Methods: Two-hundred and fifty-six children aged 4–12 years attending school/daycare were randomized to either EpiCor or Placebo for 84 days during the 2022–2023 flu season in Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS) and study diary assessed the incidence and severity of cold/flu symptoms and the use of cold/flu medications. Adverse events were recorded. Results: Total CARIFS severity scores, ‘sore throat’ and ‘muscle aches or pains’ symptom scores in the EpiCor group were significantly lower compared to Placebo during incidences of cold/flu (P ≤ 0.05). Participants taking Placebo were 1.73 times more likely to use cold/flu medication compared to those receiving EpiCor (P = 0.04). The incidence of cold/flu symptoms was not significantly different between groups. EpiCor was found to be safe and well-tolerated. Conclusions: EpiCor supplementation resulted in significantly lower cold/flu symptom severity and less cold/flu medication usage than Placebo demonstrating a beneficial effect on immune function in children. Impact: Children are at high risk of acquiring cold/flu infections and safe and efficacious mitigating regimens are lacking. Children supplemented daily with 500 mg EpiCor^TM postbiotic derived from yeast fermentate had significantly lower overall cold/flu symptom severity, and severity of sore throat and muscle aches or pains over the 84-day supplementation period. EpiCor supplementation resulted in decreased use of traditional cold/flu medication. Daily supplementation with 500 mg of EpiCor for 84 days was safe and well tolerated by healthy children aged 4–12 years attending school or daycare.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a debilitating and common condition that adversely affects quality of life. Prescriptive and surgical approaches for managing UI symptoms may result in undesirable risks and complications. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study investigated the efficacy of 2 nonsolvent flower pollen extracts on UI in healthy women. Materials and methods: One-hundred and fourteen women aged 40–75 years who scored ≥5 on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF) were randomized to receive either Graminex® RCT Fem™ UI, Graminex® PollenBerry®, or placebo for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the ICIQ-SF score between the trial and placebo groups after 24 weeks of supplementation. The secondary outcomes included changes in the frequency of nocturia (recorded in 3-day void diaries) and 24-hour leakage volume (assessed via pad weight) after 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks of supplementation and changes in stress-induced urinary leakage volume (after completion of a provocative maneuver challenge) after 24 weeks of supplementation. Results: All the groups demonstrated improvement in ICIQ-SF scores at week 24 (p < 0.001). The RCT Fem™ UI group had the greatest improvement in ICIQ-SF scores (−4.07 ± 3.4), followed by the PollenBerry® group (−3.34 ± 2.87) and placebo group (−2.61 ± 3.52). The RCT Fem™ UI group had corresponding improvements in 24-hour leakage volume (−17.68 ± 39.84 g) and frequency of nocturia (−0.52 ± 1.26) (p ≤ 0.05). PollenBerry® supplementation significantly improved stress-induced urinary leakage volume (−7.12 ± 15.64 g) at week 24. The study products demonstrated safe hematological and chemical profiles. Conclusions: RCT Fem™ UI supplementation resulted in significant and clinically meaningful reductions in UI severity, with corresponding improvements in daily urinary leakage volume and frequency of nocturia. PollenBerry® significantly improved stress-induced urinary leakage volume, suggesting that it may be efficacious in women who are prone to stress UI. The study products were safe and well tolerated in this population.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infectious disorders affecting 50% of healthy women at least once during their lifetime. Antibiotic treatment for UTIs may increase the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and side effects, highlighting the need for safe and efficacious alternatives. This study investigated the effect of acute supplementation with UClear, a D-mannose product, on UTI symptoms. Materials and methods: Women with at least 2 uncomplicated UTI symptoms, as assessed using the UTI Symptom Assessment (UTISA) questionnaire and urine nitrite and leukocyte testing, were randomized to receive UClear or a placebo for 3 days. The study outcomes included changes in the UTI symptom severity and bother scores, complete resolution of UTI symptoms, urine culture data, quality of life assessed using the RAND 36-Item Short Form Survey questionnaire, and rescue medication use. Study outcomes were measured from baseline to days 2, 3, and 4. Results: The total UTISA severity scores were not significantly different between the groups. Participants supplemented with UClear had lower total UTISA bother scores after 3 days than the placebo group ( p = 0.027). On day 4, 43% of participants receiving UClear had complete resolution of “frequency of urination,” based on the severity scores, compared with 20% of participants receiving the placebo ( p = 0.032). A greater proportion of participants supplemented with UClear reported improvements in the severity and bother scores of “incomplete voiding” ( p ≥ 0.020) and “urgency of urination” ( p ≥ 0.059), compared with the placebo group. The proportion of participants in the UClear group with urinary microbial growth improved from 50% at baseline to 29% by day 4 ( p = 0.020). UClear supplementation was safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: After 3 days of UClear supplementation, urination-related UTI symptoms improved compared with those of the placebo group. These improvements corresponded with significant improvements in the degree of discomfort due to those symptoms. Further investigations in at-risk populations are warranted to understand the efficacy of UClear in resolving UTIs.