This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of a juice blend (JB), MonaVie Active, containing a mixture of fruits and berries with known antioxidant activity, including açai, a palm fruit, as the predominant ingredient. The phytochemical antioxidants in the JB are primarily in the form of anthocyanins, predominantly cyanidin 3-rutoside, cyanidin 3-diglycoside, and cyanidin 3-glucoside. The cell-based antioxidant protection of erythrocytes (CAP-e) assay demonstrated that antioxidants in the JB penetrated and protected cells from oxidative damage (p < 0.001), whereas polymorphonuclear cells showed reduced formation of reactive oxygen species (p < 0.003) and reduced migration toward three different pro-inflammatory chemoattractants: fmlp (p < 0.001), leukotriene B4 (p < 0.05), and IL-8 (p < 0.03). A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with 12 healthy subjects examined the JB's antioxidant activity in vivo. Blood samples at baseline, 1 h, and 2 h following consumption of the JB or placebo were tested for antioxidant capacity using several antioxidant assays and the TBARS assay, a measure of lipid peroxidation. A within subject comparison showed an increase in serum antioxidants at 1 h (p < 0.03) and 2 h (p < 0.015), as well as inhibition of lipid peroxidation at 2 h (p < 0.01) postconsumption.

Sufferers experienced QoL reductions in general health and specific aspects of vision as a result of their SAC. In relative terms, the per-capita economic cost of the condition was higher than in a previous public health care study. This was ascribed to sufferers' willingness-to-pay for symptom alleviation. The unexpectedly high expenditure of the proportion of SAC sufferers who receive private health care serves to highlight the importance of SAC as a costly condition. It also illustrates the need to account for both private and public heath care modalities when attempting to ascribe a total cost to a medical condition.

Background: A nasal spray containing the antiallergy agent olopatadine hydrochloride is being developed for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 2 concentrations of olopatadine nasal spray vs placebo in patients with SAR.Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. After a 3-to 21-day placebo run-in, 565 patients aged 12 to 80 years were randomized to receive 0.4% or 0.6% olopatadine or placebo, 2 sprays per nostril twice daily for 2 weeks. Patients evaluated morning and evening reflective and instantaneous nasal symptoms (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, and itchy nose, which compose the total nasal symptom score [TNSS]) and ocular symptoms and completed the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ).Results: Olopatadine spray (0.4% and 0.6%) was significantly superior to placebo for percentage change from baseline in overall reflective (P ϭ .004 and P Ͻ .001, respectively) and instantaneous (P ϭ .02 and P ϭ .003, respectively) TNSSs. Also, 0.6% olopatadine was significantly superior to placebo for reducing the reflective and instantaneous assessments of sneezing, runny and itchy nose, and itchy eyes; the instantaneous assessments of watery eyes; and the overall and all 7 domain scores of the RQLQ (P Ͻ .05). Olopatadine spray exhibited a safety profile comparable with that of placebo.Conclusions: Olopatadine nasal spray (0.4% and 0.6%) provided statistically significant improvements in allergic rhinitis symptoms compared with placebo regarding TNSSs (reflective and instantaneous) and in quality-of-life variables in patients with SAR. Olopatadine nasal spray administered twice daily was safe and well tolerated in adolescents and adults.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2005;95:600-606.

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was designed to evaluate effects of consumption of an antioxidant-rich, yeast culture-based high-metabolite immunogen EpiCor ®. Twenty-five healthy participants consumed 0.5 gram EpiCor ® or placebo daily for 5 weeks. The hematocrit increased significantly in the EpiCor ® group (p<0.04). A mild increase in saliva sIgA upon EpiCor ® consumption (p=0.16) prompted a subsequent 8-week open-label study involving 22 people showing significant increase in sIgA (p<0.05). EpiCor ® consumption led to a mild increase in serum IL-10 (p<0.2); no other differences in Th1/Th2 cytokines were observed. Minor health complaints decreased in the EpiCor ® group compared to the placebo group (p<0.02). Seasonal allergies increased in the placebo group, but were not observed in the EpiCor ® group; this was reflected by increased serum IgE in the placebo group compared to the EpiCor ® group (p<0.13). We conclude that consumption of EpiCor ® supported the health of red blood cells and mucosal immune protection.