The Study
An untargeted metabolomics approach applied to the study of the bioavailability and metabolism of three different bioactive plant extracts in human blood samples.
This study showed that when people drink plant extracts, certain chemicals from those plants show up in their blood — like a food tracker for your bloodstream. But it didn’t check if those chemicals make people healthier, just that they got absorbed.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave people pills made from three different plant extracts and checked their blood to see what parts got absorbed and changed.
Where does this study sit?
Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control
Max 58Cross-Sectional
Max 44Case Reports & Series
Max 30Expert Opinion
Max 575 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. Considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The body quickly absorbs and changes plant chemicals — but if the pill doesn't have enough of the right stuff, your body won't show any trace of it.
- 2Hibiscus pill: 14 blood compounds found.
- 3Silybum pill: 25 blood compounds found.
- 4Cocoa pill: only 3 compounds found — because it had too little active ingredient.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Food & function
Year
2024
Authors
María del Carmen Villegas-Aguilar, María de la Cádiz Gurrea, M. Herranz‐López, E. Barrajón-Catalán, D. Arráez-Román, Á. Fernández-Ochoa, A. Segura-Carretero
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.