2.3. Clinical Trial Design
Ninety-six eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the placebo or PR group using a computer-generated random block number table. The group allocation was blinded for both the investigators and participants. After a 2-week run-in period, participants were instructed to consume one pouch of PR or matched placebo beverage twice daily, providing a daily intake of 5.6 mg/day of platycoside E, for eight weeks. Compliance was measured by counting the number of unused pouches. Throughout the study, participants were advised to avoid high-fat diets and foods containing Participants visited the research center in the morning at the beginning and end of the study. They consumed one pouch of PR or matched placebo along with a standardized high-fat shake consisting of 900 kcal, 58.9% from fat, 33.3% from carbohydrate, and 7.6% from protein [