Micronutrient Supplementation and Incidence of Common Cold

Influence of Micronutrient Supplementation on Duty Days Lost Due to Flu/Common Cold, Immune System, Oxidative Stress and Wellbeing in a Cohort of Middle Management Employees

This study investigates the effects of a dietary supplement - a cocktail of vitamins and minerals - on the incidence of common cold in a cohort of middle management employees.The primary outcome is defined as the number of duty days lost due to common cold/flu. Further, immune parameters and markers of redox biology/oxidative stress will be determined. The wellbeing in the cohort will be evaluated via questionnaires.

randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial 82 Subjects, men and women, 25 - 50 yrs, non-smokers, employees of middle management, 24 weeks of supplementation/placebo, 4 wk wash-out of all supplements and dietetic products, undersupply of fruit, vegetables (< 4 portions/day) and whole grain food (< 5x/wk)

Inclusion Criteria:

• pre or peri-menopausal
• non-smokers
• sedentary or moderately trained
• BMI: >20 and < 35kg/m2
• undersupply of fruits, vegetables and whole grain food, fibres
• contraceptives
• wash-out

Exclusion Criteria:

• post-menopausal
• smokers
• trained people
• BMI out of inclusion range
• adequate intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grain food, fibres
• no adherence to wash-out