2.2.3. Study Design
DRY EYE, OXIDATIVE STRESS
A total of 69 participants were randomly assigned to placebo, D2, or D4 treatment groups. All assigned substances were matched for appearance, taste, volume, and calories (428 kcal). Each serving of the tested soups contained carbohydrates (72 g), fiber (10.5 g), fat (9.84 g), and protein (11.96 g). “Anthaplex” contains of a mixture of germinated purple corn and rice berry. No “Anthaplex” was provided to the placebo group, whereas experimental groups D2 and D4 were provided “Anthaplex” at dosages of 2 g and 4 g, respectively. However, purple corn was added to placebo and D2, respectively, to balance the total weight per serving. Information regarding characteristics, anthropometry, cognitive function, working memory, dry eye, serum activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), total monoamine oxidase (MAO), monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B), and 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-T) enzymes, and brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) together with oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), was monitored at baseline and at the end of an 8-week study period. In addition, the amounts of lactic-acid-producing bacteria, 