Combination of black seed oil and omega-3 supports gut and immune health in athletes

A recent study¹ found that the supplementation with a proprietary black seed (Nigela sativa) oil standardized to 3% thymoquinone (ThymoQuin from TriNutra) in combination with omega-3s supports the gut-immune axis of athletes. In the study, 35 male and female runners consumed a blend of 500 mg of black cumin seed oil and 1,500 mg fish oil or placebo for three weeks prior to and one week following a marathon or half-marathon. Subjects completed a profile of mood state (POMS) psychological assessment and a health log questionnaire measuring health status and upper-respiratory tract complaints, provided saliva and fecal samples, and measure blood omega-3 levels using an at-home fingerstick test from Omega-Quant Analytics.

Results showed that compared to placebo, subjects taking the combination of black seed oil and omega-3s saw significantly fewer upper-respiratory tract complaints (-62%) and better overall well-being (+15%), as well as higher omega-3 blood levels, lower cortisol levels (-37%), and superior microbiome indices, specifically higher levels of Streptococcus thermophilus (+67%).

“This linkage between body and mind across the ‘Gut-Immune-Axis’ involves many coordinated and interconnected aspects. When the entire system is balanced, as evidenced here in the Supplement group, there is a noticeable benefit for physical health and mental wellness, suggesting that the two are linked through the microbiome and stress response pathways,” said Morris Zelkha, CEO of TriNutra, in a press release. “Our ThymoQuin black seed oil is a potent ingredient on its own, and when combined with other extracts, it continues to show its ability to bolster the effectiveness of the combined product. We will continue researching our ThymoQuin and its synergetic effects to build upon our current research.”

Reference

Talbott SM et al. “Black cumin seed oil plus fish oil combination modulates gut-immune-axis.” ECronicon Journal, vol. 17, no. 7 (2022): 18-27, https://ecronicon.org/assets/ecnu/pdf/ECNU-17-01043.pdf