Effects of a Food Supplement with a Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) Extract on Gut Health and the Microbiome in Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial  

作　　者：Katharina Knaub Christiane Schön Cynthia G. Suarez Ivo Pischel Katharina Knaub;Christiane Schön;Cynthia G. Suarez;Ivo Pischel(BioTeSys GmbH, Esslingen, Germany;Finzelberg GmbH & Co. KG, Andernach, Germany;Dr. Ivo Pischel Consulting, Rossbach, Germany)

机构地区：[1]BioTeSys GmbH, Esslingen, Germany [2]Finzelberg GmbH & Co. KG, Andernach, Germany [3]Dr. Ivo Pischel Consulting, Rossbach, Germany

出　　处：《Food and Nutrition Sciences》2022年第11期931-949,共19页食品与营养科学（英文）

摘　　要：Background: Based on the scientific and traditional knowledge, benefits for gut and digestive health were expected from Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) extract (WThE) consumption, but no controlled human studies were performed yet to prove the proposed health benefits. Method: The aim of this human randomized, double-blind parallel arm pilot study was to explore the impact of aqueous Wild Thyme extract, a food supplement, in a healthy but overweight study collective (N = 40). In detail, the impact on digestion, gastrointestinal symptoms, gut microbiome, and quality of life by employing an essential oil-free WThE preparation or a matching placebo was investigated. Results: The study results indicate that WThE has the potential to improve gastrointestinal symptoms and increase stool frequency, thus an improved quality of life was observed. The stool microbiome of study collective was characterized by a high Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. A decrease in the mean Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was seen in WThE group. Conclusion: The data support the potential applications of WThE as a food supplement with benefits on gut health.Background: Based on the scientific and traditional knowledge, benefits for gut and digestive health were expected from Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) extract (WThE) consumption, but no controlled human studies were performed yet to prove the proposed health benefits. Method: The aim of this human randomized, double-blind parallel arm pilot study was to explore the impact of aqueous Wild Thyme extract, a food supplement, in a healthy but overweight study collective (N = 40). In detail, the impact on digestion, gastrointestinal symptoms, gut microbiome, and quality of life by employing an essential oil-free WThE preparation or a matching placebo was investigated. Results: The study results indicate that WThE has the potential to improve gastrointestinal symptoms and increase stool frequency, thus an improved quality of life was observed. The stool microbiome of study collective was characterized by a high Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. A decrease in the mean Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was seen in WThE group. Conclusion: The data support the potential applications of WThE as a food supplement with benefits on gut health.

关 键 词：Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) Extract Gut Health Gut Microbiome Abdominal Comfort Bowel Movement Mental Well-Being Quality of Life 

分 类 号：R57[医药卫生—消化系统]