An open-label, randomized clinical trial to assess the immunomodulatory activity of a novel oligosaccharide compound in healthy adults | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 2 No. 7 (2012): July 2012 / Research Articles An open-label, randomized clinical trial to assess the immunomodulatory activity of a novel oligosaccharide compound in healthy adults Authors Karriem H. Ali Pharmacognosia, P.O. Box 971, Rainier, WA 98576 Angelica B. Melillo Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 Susanna M. Leonard Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 Deshratn Asthana Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 Judi M. Woolger Department of Medicine at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 Aaron H. Wolfson Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 H. McDaniel Fisher Institute for Medical Research, 2701 Osler Dr Suite 6B Grand Prairie, TX 75051 John E. Lewis Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v2i7.84 Abstract Background: Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound (RBAC) is a nutritional supplement produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of hemicellulose B derived from rice bran. Several in vitro studies and clinical reports have shown RBAC to possess promising immunomodulating effects, specifically with respect to natural killer cell and cytokine activity. The concept of a true immunomodulator is an agent possessing a broad range of activity dependent upon the existing state of health and immunity in the individual host. The present study investigated the immunomodulatory effect of RBAC in a healthy adult human population over 60 days by assessing changes in natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and cytokines and growth factors. Subjects participated in a two-group, randomized intervention, where one group (n=10) consumed 1 gram/day and the other (n=10) consumed 3 gram/day. Safety and tolerability of RBAC were assessed with total bilirubin, total protein, creatinine, and liver function tests. Results: We found that both groups had similar responses for NKCC, cytokines, and growth factors. The NKCC peaked at 1 week, whereas interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukins-1α, -1β, -8, and -10, and epidermal growth factor peaked at 30 days. All subjects tolerated the supplement without any adverse reactions. Conclusions: Our results showed transient, bi-directional, immune marker effects consistent with true, multifactorial immunomodulation rather than simply immunostimulation or immunosuppression. Given our findings, the immunomodulatory activity of RBAC merits study in conditions where the immune system is functionally compromised (e.g., otherwise-healthy smokers and HIV/AIDS or cancer patients). RBAC may not only help to destroy tumor cells and viruses directly, but also increase the activity of immune cells, thereby optimizing the immune system, especially NKCC, which can increase the chance and speed of host recovery. Keywords: Rice bran, arabinoxylan compound, activity of immune cells, immunomodulation, HIV/AIDS, and cancer Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2012-07-28 Issue Vol. 2 No. 7 (2012): July 2012 Section Research Articles License Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com