2.2. Study Population
Anxiety, anxiety, IBS, intestinal disease, psychiatric illness, malignant disease, asthma, depression, Depression, rheumatoid
CELIAC DISEASE, ASTHMA, IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS, FOOD ALLERGIES, INTESTINAL DISEASE, DISEASES, MALIGNANT DISEASE
Healthy males and females aged 21 to 50 years with moderate stress were recruited via advertisements, and using a list of previously reported interested subjects. All subjects lived in the area of Cork, Ireland. Interested subjects were asked to fill in the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires for the assessment of their stress levels. A PSS score between ≥14 and ≤26, and a HADS score of ≤ 10 for anxiety and depression were required for enrollment. Subjects within these ranges, who fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria, were asked to participate in the clinical study and were scheduled for their inclusion visit (visit 1). Exclusion criteria included active IBS (according to the Rome IV criteria), any chronic intestinal disease, immunodeficiency disorders or immunosuppressive treatment, any known food allergies or celiac disease, intake of antibiotics within four weeks before the screening visit or any previous psychiatric illness (within five years), consumption of systemic psychotropics, rheumatoid drugs, steroid drugs, regular asthma medications or use of creams containing cortisone within the previous four weeks before the screening visit. Subjects who had been included in any other clinical study with an intake of any investigational product, who were pregnant or had plans to change their current diet and/or exercise regime during the participation of the trial, had any malignant disease or other end-organ diseases that were judged to interfere with the study, or those with a history of heavy caffeine consumption (>400 mg/day) were also excluded. Any intake of antibiotics, and/or intake of other probiotic supplements or other food supplements which could interfere with the study was also prohibited. Subjects were informed that deviating from the study procedures would lead to premature withdrawal. 