Blinding
DEL
This was a double-blinded clinical trial because participants and those assessing the outcomes were blinded to intervention. The placebo tablets were identical in size, shape, color and taste, but contained inactive ingredients (maltodextrin). Every person involved in the study received two cruets, marked with a code provided by the manufacturer and unknown to us and to the subjects, inside three tablets each. Both, the cruets and the tablets, were identical to make distinguishing between them impossible. Therefore, participants itself choose was ensured. The placebo formulation was manufactured by the Laboratori Plants Group (Pace del Mela ME, Italy).