A Study of a Dietary Supplement on Serum Biomarkers in Children

Overview

This is a pilot clinical study designed to evaluate the effects of a dietary supplement on selected blood-based nutritional biomarkers in healthy children aged 4 to 15 years. Approximately 24 children will be screened and enrolled to account for potential dropouts, with a target of 20 participants completing the study. Eligible participants will attend a screening and baseline visit, followed by daily intake of the study supplement for 4 weeks. After the supplementation period, participants will return to the clinic for an end-of-study visit. Blood samples will be collected at baseline and after 4 weeks to measure nutritional biomarkers, including vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and standard blood count parameters. Additional assessments include height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Throughout the study, participants or their caregivers will record daily supplement intake, any medications taken, and any adverse events in a study diary. The results of this pilot study will provide preliminary data on the effects of the dietary supplement on serum biomarkers in children.

This is a prospective, monadic pilot clinical study designed to evaluate the effects of a dietary supplement on serum nutritional biomarkers in healthy children. The study will be conducted at a single site, SF Research Institute, San Francisco, California. Approximately 24 participants will be recruited to compensate for potential dropouts, with a target of 20 participants completing the study. Children aged 4 to 15 years who meet all inclusion and exclusion criteria will be eligible to participate. Recruitment will occur through the SF Research Institute database, social media, and public flyers. The study consists of two clinic visits over a total study duration of approximately 4 weeks. At the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day 1), written informed consent from the parent or legal guardian and assent from the child will be obtained prior to any study procedures. Demographic information, medical history, socioeconomic status, and medication use will be collected, and eligibility criteria will be reviewed. Baseline anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), will be recorded. At the baseline visit, participants will undergo phlebotomy for the collection of blood samples to assess nutritional biomarkers. Following completion of baseline assessments, eligible participants will be enrolled and provided with the investigational dietary supplement along with instructions for daily use over a 4-week period. Participants will also receive a daily diary to record supplement intake, concomitant medications (if taken), treatment compliance, and any adverse events. The investigational product is a gummy dietary supplement, and participants will be instructed to take two gummies once daily, with or without food, starting on Day 1 and continuing for the duration of the study. At the End-of-Study Visit (Week 4), participants will return to the clinic for review of the completed daily diary and assessment of compliance. A second blood sample will be collected for post-intervention biomarker analysis. Following completion of these procedures, participants will be discharged from the study. Biomarker analyses will include measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, serum vitamin B12, red blood cell folate, polyunsaturated fatty acids (including DHA and EPA), and a complete blood count. All laboratory analyses will be performed at Empire City Laboratories, Brooklyn, New York, USA. All participants and their parents or guardians will have the opportunity to review the results of bloodwork, and instructions will be provided on how to contact the study physician for result-related questions.