Effect and Tolerability of a Nutritional Supplement Based on a Synergistic Combination of β-Glucans and Selenium- and Zinc-Enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ABB C1®) in Volunteers Receiving the Influenza or the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Nutrients. 2021 Dec 2;13(12):4347. doi: 10.3390/nu13124347.

Abstract

A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 72 volunteers who received a synergistic combination of yeast-based ingredients with a unique β-1,3/1,6-glucan complex and a consortium of heat-treated probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae rich in selenium and zinc (ABB C1®) or placebo on the next day after getting vaccinated against influenza (Chiromas®) (n = 34) or the COVID-19 (Comirnaty®) (n = 38). The duration of treatment was 30 and 35 days for the influenza and COVID-19 vaccine groups, respectively. Mean levels of CD4+T cells increased from 910.7 at baseline to 1000.2 cells/µL after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the ABB C1® group, whereas there was a decrease from 1055.1 to 929.8 cells/µL in the placebo group. Changes of CD3+T and CD8+T lymphocytes showed a similar trend. In the COVID-19 cohort, the increases in both IgG and IgM were higher in the ABB C1® supplement than in the placebo group. Serum levels of selenium and zinc showed a higher increase in subjects treated with the active product than in those receiving placebo. No serious adverse events related to ABB C1® or tolerance issues were reported. The study findings validate the capacity of the ABB C1® product to stimulate trained immunity.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; influenza vaccine; nutritional supplementation; selenium; trained immunity; zinc; β-1,3/1,6-glucan complex.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / immunology
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae*
  • Selenium / administration & dosage*
  • Selenium / immunology
  • Zinc / administration & dosage*
  • Zinc / immunology
  • beta-Glucans / administration & dosage*
  • beta-Glucans / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • beta-Glucans
  • Selenium
  • Zinc