Table 1.
Examples of nutrient synergy benefits in clinical trials.
| Body system | Synergistic ingredients | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Nervous | Rhodiola + Magnesium + Green Tea + B-vitamins S | Attenuated stress, heightened subjective and autonomic arousal, increased EEG theta activity (34) |
| Vitamin B12, Folate, and Vitamin B6 C | Reduction in homocysteine; Slowing of brain matter loss progression (29, 30) | |
| Omega-3 + Alpha Lipoic Acid S | Less decline in the Mini-Mental State Examination score and activities of daily living assessment (35) | |
| Cardiovascular | Folic Acid + Vitamin B12 S | Reductions in homocysteine (36) |
| Coenzyme Q10 + Vitamin E S | Reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), reduced atherogenic coefficient (37) | |
| Omega-3 + Niacin S | Increased LDL apoE/apoB ratios and LDL apoA1/apoB ratios (38) | |
| Respiratory | Vitamin C + Vitamin E C | Protection against the acute effects of ozone pollution (39) |
| Vitamin C + Vitamin E + Beta-carotene C | Improved FVC, FEV, and forced expiratory flow in hazardous environmental conditions (40) | |
| Digestive | Synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic)S | Greater quality-of-life improvements and a significant decrease in CRP levels (41) |
| Synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic) C | More effective in eradicating Helicobacter pylori when combined with a standard medication therapy (42) | |
| Endocrine | Zinc + Selenium S | Improved T3, free T4, and TSH levels (43) |
| Vitamin D + Calcium + Leucine-enriched whey protein drink C | Suppression of parathyroid hormone, increased serum 25(OH)D, and accompanying small improvements in bone mineral density (44) | |
| Musculoskeletal | Calcium + Vitamins D + Vitamin K S | Improved bone mineral density, circulating levels of biomarkers associated with bone health, and risks of fractures (45, 46) |
| Vitamin D + Calcium S | Reduced parathyroid hormone and increased calcium/creatinine ratio (47) | |
| Immune | Chlorella vulgaris + Vitamin E S | Attenuation of TNF-α levels in patients with NAFLD (48) |
| Vitamin C + Zinc C | Symptom relief from the common cold (49) | |
| Vitamin C + Vitamin E S | Enhanced immune response (50) | |
| Integumentary | Hesperiden + Rosemary C | Increased the minimal erythema dose after UV irradiation (51) |
| Vitamin C + Vitamin E C | Increased the minimal erythema dose after UV irradiation (52) | |
| Lycopene + Beta-carotene C | Prevent erythema following exposure to UV irradiation (53) |
S, synergistic study design; C, combination study design; EEG, electroencephalogram; CRP, C-reactive protein; T3, triiodothyronine; T4, thyroxine; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; TNF- α, tumor necrosis factor alpha; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; UV, ultra-violet.