SCIENCE AT VITAMIC

Tested in real-world conditions. Not just in the lab.

Pilots, nurses, runners, and basketball players: ZEROLIMITS was tested in settings where physical strain is part of everyday life. In addition, a clinical study was conducted with BIOSEN, which included both questionnaires and blood tests. This page lists all five studies, including their methodologies, results, and limitations. The information is presented in full—even when the numbers aren’t so encouraging.

5
Studies
167
Participants
5
Countries and Settings
1
clinical trial
HOW WE NAME OUR STUDIES

Not every study is a clinical trial.

These terms are not interchangeable, and the difference determines what a number can actually convey. For each of our five studies, we use precisely the term that is methodologically appropriate.

1 of 5

Clinical Trial

Study protocol, approval from an ethics committee, defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, objective measurements, and an external publication with a permanently citable DOI. In our case, this applies exclusively to the BIOSEN study.

1 of 5

Pilot Study

A controlled study with a comparison group, random assignment, and blinding of participants and the research team, but with a small sample size and an exploratory research question. In our case, this is the double-blind basketball study.

3 out of 5

Applied and Observational Study

A study conducted under real-world conditions, before and after, without a control group and without blinding. It describes what participants report and does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. This applies to the studies involving nurses, runners, and pilots.

For us, no observational study becomes a clinical trial, and no pilot study becomes proof of efficacy. Whenever a figure is presented without a control group, that fact is noted.

STUDY 01 / 05
Clinical Trial
BIOSEN
Madrid · Barcelona · Valencia · Castellón

Four inflammatory markers in the blood. All four were significantly reduced.

Six weeks, 60 participants, four Spanish hospitals. This is the only VITAMIC study in which measurements were taken in addition to collecting data: Blood samples were taken from 20 participants before and after they took the medication.

At a Glance

TYPE OF STUDY
Clinical trial, single-arm, open-label
PARTICIPANTS
60 · Blood Subgroup 20
DURATION
6 weeks
DOSAGE
2 × 10 drops daily
ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Francisco Mera Cordero
LOCATIONS
4 hospitals in Spain
ETHICS VOTE
San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid
PUBLICATION
BJSTR, Vol. 47/3, 2022

The key finding: the blood test results

Questionnaires measure how someone feels. Blood tests measure what is happening in the body. In the blood subgroup, four established markers of inflammation were measured before and after the six weeks. All four were significantly lower afterward, with three of them showing the highest level of statistical significance.

4 of 4

Measured inflammatory markers in the blood were significantly reduced after six weeks. The ENCHEPAX™ panel was analyzed, with all samples tested on the same analytical plate to rule out any bias.

p < 0.001
CRP
An acute-phase protein produced by the liver. The most commonly measured inflammatory marker worldwide.
p < 0.001
A2M
Acute-phase protein. A marker of systemic inflammatory response.
p < 0.001
Fetuin-A
Acute-phase protein. It is associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.
p < 0.01
AGP (Orosomucoid)
Hepatic acute-phase protein. Elevated in cases of chronic inflammation and infection.

The data were analyzed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test, supplemented by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA clearly distinguished the values measured before and after administration. Other markers measured, such as BDNF, RANTES, NCAM, and PF4, did not show consistent significance.

The Symptoms

Nine symptoms were assessed on a 10-point scale at the start of the study and after weeks 1, 2, 3, and 6. The results were analyzed across all 60 participants.

7 of 9

The reported symptoms improved significantly over the course of the study.

p < 0.01
Concentration
Highest level of significance among all symptoms assessed; significant starting in Week 6.
p < 0.05
Pain
Musculoskeletal pain, decreasing across all measurement time points.
p < 0.05
Anxiety
In addition, the EuroQol-5D quality-of-life scale showed positive trends.
significant
Fatigue
Significant starting in week 3.
significant
Mental confusion
Significant starting in week 6.
significant
Shortness of breath
Decreasing across all measurement time points.
significant
Sleep disturbances
Decreasing across all measurement time points.

Two other symptoms recorded—loss of smell and taste—showed no significant change. Both are virus-specific and are not related to the inflammatory response. For sleep disturbances and headaches, the p-values in the Fisher’s exact test were 0.086 and 0.07, respectively—values at the borderline of statistical significance; however, the differences were significant in the analysis of the Likert scales and in the pairwise comparison of the measurement time points.

Why These Findings Extend Beyond the Context of the Study

The original research question was post-viral. The markers measured are not. CRP, A2M, fetuin-A, and AGP are general inflammatory markers that are used in medicine completely independently of this research question.

Marker
Established, context-independent
These four markers are recognized indicators of low-grade chronic inflammation.
Consistency
Three measures, one trend
: Likert-scale symptoms, EuroQol-5D quality of life, and blood biomarkers all show the same trend.
Objectivity
Cannot be Explained by Expectation
A blood test result does not change simply because someone expects a certain outcome.

“BIOSEN, with its unique combination of curcumin, boswellia, and vitamin C, demonstrated a significant improvement in symptoms in the study.”

Dr. Francisco Mera Cordero
Study Director · Director of the Long COVID Unit, Blue Health Care, Spain

What This Study Cannot Show

This study is our greatest asset. That is precisely why we identify its limitations just as clearly as we do its findings.

The strength of this study lies in its design, not in the journal: an ethics review by a university hospital, four clinics, objective blood test results, p < 0.001. That is exactly how we present it. More information about the ingredients can be found on the BIOSEN product page.

Full text and permanent citation: Mera Cordero, F. M. (2022), Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 47(3). DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2022.47.007512

The product resulting from the study

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STUDY 02 / 05
Pilot Study · Double-Blind
ZEROLIMITS
Science City Jena · NBBL, Germany

ZEROLIMITS vs. a placebo

16 players from the Junior Basketball Bundesliga, four weeks, two groups. Eight were given ZEROLIMITS, and eight were given a control product that was identical in appearance and taste. None of the players knew which group they were in.

At a Glance

TYPE OF STUDY
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study
PARTICIPANTS
16 · 8 ZEROLIMITS / 8 Placebo
POPULATION
Male, ages 16 to 18, actively playing in the NBBL
DURATION
4 weeks
DOSAGE
2 × 15 drops daily
PERIOD
Spring 2025 · Pre-test: Feb. 28, Post-test: Apr. 1
COOPERATION
Jan de Buhr, Head Coach of NBBL Science City Jena
ANALYSIS
t-tests, Cohen's d, significance level α = 0.05

How the Blindfold Was Constructed

What “double-blind” means: Neither the participants nor the people supervising and conducting the measurements know who is in which group. There are five criteria involved, and all five are met.

fulfilled

was a blindedtrial. The participants did not know which bottle contained the active ingredient.
fulfilled
Placebo indistinguishable
Both solutions were identical in appearance and taste.
fulfilled
Randomization
; 1:1 allocation based on bottle numbers.
fulfilled

Blindedby the CoachThe head coach didn't know the group assignments; he saw only bottle numbers.
fulfilled

, the study leader, used a blindeddesign. In the three performance tests as well, it was not known who had received which treatment.

It follows that the study is double-blind. This is important because it eliminates the two most common sources of bias: the expectation effect among participants—since no player knew whether they were receiving the active ingredient— And the measurement bias on the part of the researchers, because even the coaches and test administrators did not know, and therefore could not unconsciously influence either the coaching or the performance tests in any particular direction. The subsequent statistical analysis was not conducted with additional blinding; that would be the next step and is discussed below.

Results Compared to Placebo

Eighteen parameters were measured weekly on a 10-point scale and pooled over the four weeks. Eight of them were significantly higher than those in the placebo group.

+18,2 %

better recovery than in the placebo group. This was the strongest individual effect in the study, with p < 0.001 and a large effect size of Cohen’s d = 0.95.

+18,2 %
Regeneration
7.09 vs. 6.00 · p < 0.001 · Cohen's d = 0.95
+13,5 %

concentration7.78 vs. 6.86 · p < 0.001 · Cohen's d = 0.97
+12,7 %
Mental resilience
: 7.47 vs. 6.63 · p = 0.003 · Cohen's d = 0.77
+12,7 %
Subjective strength
: 7.34 vs. 6.51 · p < 0.001 · Cohen's d = 0.92
+12,3 %
Agility
7.12 vs. 6.34 · p = 0.001 · Cohen's d = 0.85
+11,3 %
Reactiontime
: 7.34 vs. 6.60 · p = 0.001 · Cohen's d = 0.82
+9,8 %
Speed
: 7.38 vs. 6.71 · p = 0.021 · Cohen's d = 0.58
+8,4 %
Coordination
: 6.97 vs. 6.43 · p = 0.045 · Cohen's d = 0.50

Cohen’s d describes the effect size independently of the sample size: values of 0.2 or higher are considered small, 0.5 or higher are considered medium, and 0.8 or higher are considered large. Six of the eight significant values fall within the range of a large effect size.

And the values with no significant difference

Although five additional parameters were higher in the ZEROLIMITS group, they did not reach the significance level. We are including them here because a list of results without the non-hits is not a complete list of results.

+5,8 %
Sleep quality
, p = 0.234 · Cohen's d = 0.29
+4,4 %
General performance
p = 0.178 · Cohen's d = 0.34
+3,8 %
Respiration
, p = 0.475; Cohen's d = 0.17
+3,2 %
Mobility
, p = 0.515; Cohen's d = 0.16
−13.8%
Stress level (lower is better)
; p = 0.106; Cohen's d = −0.40

The Objective Performance Tests

In addition to the self-assessment, three objective tests were administered before and after the four-week period: maximum strength in the bench press over three repetitions, jump height in the drop jump, and thirty free throws.

+3.9 kg
3-RM Bench Press
Significant within the ZEROLIMITS group, p = 0.009. Placebo +3.2 kg, p = 0.059. No significant difference between the groups, p = 0.679.
+1.1 cm
Drop-jump height
—about three times as high as in the placebo group ( ), with a difference of +0.3 cm, but not statistically significant, p = 0.479.
+0,1
30 free throws
Virtually unchanged in both groups. Ceiling effect among trained NBBL players.

With 16 participants, there is insufficient statistical power for group comparisons in objective tests, regardless of how well the study was blinded.

“As part of a pilot study, we investigated the effect of VITAMIC ZEROLIMITS® on the performance of young basketball players. We tested three key performance parameters: drop jump, 3-RM bench press, and 30 free throws. The results provide initial interesting insights into possible correlations between taking ZEROLIMITS® and athletic performance in youth competitive sports.”

Jan de Buhr
Head Coach, NBBL, Science City Jena

What This Study Cannot Show

This study is the only one that is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. It is therefore our most methodologically robust ZEROLIMITS study. Nevertheless, it remains a pilot study with 16 participants, and these limitations still apply.

A result based on 16 participants remains an indication, not proof. The value of this study lies in the fact that it is the only one of our five that allows for a true comparison: two groups, randomly assigned, and no one in the room knew who had which bottle. Given these conditions, the fact that the eight significant values correspond exactly to the ranges identified by the other three ZEROLIMITS studies carries significantly more weight. What this means for training is explained on the ZEROLIMITS in Sports page .

The product that was tested against a placebo

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STUDY 03 / 05
Case Study
ZEROLIMITS
Several hospitals in Vienna, Austria

Four weeks of 12-hour shifts.

49 certified nurses from several hospitals in Vienna. Night shifts, shift changes, constant stress: It’s hard to imagine a tougher real-world test. And no other professional group in the DACH region evaluates a healthcare product more critically.

At a Glance

TYPE OF STUDY
Observational study, before/after, without a control group
PARTICIPANTS
49 valid pairs out of 50 final questionnaires
COMPOSITION
82% female · Average age 47 · Range 25 to 61
DURATION
4 weeks
DOSAGE
2 × 15 drops daily
PERIOD
May through July 2025
SURVEY
Standardized online questionnaire, 11 items, scale from 1 to 10
SETTING
Several hospitals in Vienna, licensed nursing staff

The results after four weeks

Data were collected both before and after. The table shows the percentage of participants who reported an improvement, followed by the absolute numbers.

74 %

reported feeling less exhausted after four weeks. That’s 36 out of 49 participants.

74 %
Reduces fatigue
36 of 49
63 %
Energy up
31 of 49
53 %
Better concentration
26 of 49
47 %

, Who Is Emotionally Resilient23 of 49
41 %
Improved muscle and joint function
13 out of 32 who had reported symptoms at the start
29 %
Sleep Improves
14 of 49
26 %
Improved digestion
10 out of 39 who had reported symptoms at the start

Sleep, at 29 percent, is the lowest figure in the study. This makes sense: For shift workers, sleep quality is determined more by the work schedule than by anything else. We’re showing this figure anyway, rather than just listing the top three rows.

Energy Value in Detail

Energy was the only metric that was measured as a score both before and after, making it directly comparable.

5.2 → 6.7

Average energy score on a scale of 1 to 10, an increase of 1.45 points. The median rose from 5 to 7.

63 %

, 31 out of 49 participants reported a higher value
24 %

, 12 of 49 participants reported no change
12 %
reported a lower value
6 out of 49 participants
20 %

, 10 out of 49 participants reported an increase of 3 points or more

Where the effect occurs

When broken down by the initial value, the pattern becomes clear: Growth occurs where energy levels were low at the start.

+59 %
Initial value of 5 or less
, n = 28 · from 3.96 to 6.32
+12 %
Initial value 6 to 7
n = 14 · from 6.50 to 7.29
−2%
Initial value 8 and above
n = 7 · from 8.00 to 7.86

If you start at 8 out of 10, there’s hardly any room to go up. The last line shows a slight decline and is listed here just like the first one.

Three individual findings

Each of these three values applies only to the subset that specified the characteristic at the beginning. The denominators are shown below them.

72 %
Among those with high stress levels, 26 out of 36 who had reported frequent or very frequent exhaustion at the start reported an improvement
67 %
Those who are frequently prone to infections remained infection-free
10 out of 15 had three to four infections per year and spent more than four weeks in a hospital setting
56 %
took fewer painkillers
9 out of 16 who took painkillers at least once a week

Without a control group, no cause can be inferred from these figures. They describe what the participants reported, not what ZEROLIMITS achieved.

“I don’t need to take a nap after work anymore—I just have more energy. I was already taking the drops before, but only once a day, and I didn’t experience this effect then.”

Maria Aschacher, 53
Caregiver, Vienna · Participant in the observational study

“Unfortunately, I can’t stand the taste of frankincense over the long term. Although the drops help improve my quality of life, I can no longer take them.”

Romana Wallek, 47
Nurse, Vienna · Critical feedback from the same survey

What This Study Cannot Show

An observational study is not proof of efficacy. It describes what people report under real-world conditions.

What makes this survey valuable nonetheless is that nursing staff are medically trained, work under constant real-world stress, and evaluate health products critically. And the three most prominent factors—exhaustion, energy, and concentration—are exactly the same three identified in the other three ZEROLIMITS studies. The ZEROLIMITS website describes this same stressful situation in terms of work and focus.

STUDY 04 / 05
Observational study
ZEROLIMITS
California, USA

Six months on a long-haul flight.

22 long-distance runners in California, ranging from a runner returning to the sport after a five-year hiatus to a marathon runner with a personal best of 2:22. They were followed for six months, and their performance was analyzed based on the data available for the first four weeks.

At a Glance

TYPE OF STUDY
Observational study, without a control group
PARTICIPANTS
22 included · 21 actively responding · 9 with complete before-and-after data
DATA POINTS
93 questionnaire responses
DURATION
6 months · March through September 2025
EVALUATED
Start through Week 4
PROFILE
Average age: 28.4 years · 82% exercise more than 5 times a week
BACKGROUND
Fitness 8.05 / 10 · Recovery 7.00 / 10
SURVEY
Baseline plus recurring self-assessment, scale of 1 to 10, and free-text response

The most important single factor: sleep

At each measurement point, participants were asked whether they found their sleep to be very restful. The percentage increased steadily over the four weeks.

27% → 83%

rated their sleep as very restful. At the start of the study, 4 out of 15 did so; after four weeks, 10 out of 12 did.

27 %
Start
, Answer 4 of 15
47 %
Week 1
, 8 of 17 answers
53 %
Week 2
8 of 15 answers
56 %
Week 3
, 9 of 16 answers
83 %
Week 4
: 10 of 12 answers

The denominator decreases over the weeks because not all participants responded at every point in time. With 12 responses in Week 4, each individual accounts for about 8 percentage points. This is an important factor to consider when interpreting this figure.

All recorded values, from the start through Week 4

Analyzed based on the nine participants for whom data are available for both time points. Scale of 1 to 10.

+28,3 %
Athletic Confidence:
5.89 to 7.56
+25,0 %
Mood and Motivation:
6.67 to 8.33
+23,3 %
Sleep Quality
: 6.67 to 8.22
+20,7 %
Recovery from Muscle Soreness
6.44 to 7.78
+18,3 %
Energy
: 6.67 to 7.89
+18,3 %
Focus and Mental Sharpness
: 6.67 to 7.89
+17,3 %
Stress Management
: 5.78 to 6.78
+16,9 %

's total performance:6.56 to 7.67
+15,3 %
General Well-Being
6.56 to 7.56
+14,0 %
Flexibility and Stiffness
6.33 to 7.22
+11,3 %
Endurance
: 6.89 to 7.67
+9,8 %

: From 6.78 to 7.44
+9,5 %

's recovery:from 7.00 to 7.67

Nine participants is a small sample size. What is noteworthy is not so much the specific percentage values as the fact that all thirteen values surveyed point in the same direction and none of them is decreasing.

The Data, Presented Transparently

This study has a problem that we won’t hide: The response rate drops off starting in the second month. For this reason, we are only analyzing data up to week 4 and are not presenting aggregate figures for the later months.

15
Start
, solid baseline
17
Week 1
: Highest Response Rate in the Study
15
Week 2
, good
16
Week 3
, good
12
Week 4
: good, still usable · last time evaluated
8
Month 2
: A Significant Decline Begins
5
Month 3
, now only readable as a direction
4
Month 4
, very small
1
Month 5
: Cannot be evaluated
0
Month 6
: no data

A six-month study period sounds good. Four weeks of that are feasible. That’s exactly how we’re communicating this study.

“It took me about three days to recover. Usually, it takes five on average.”

Moises Marquez
5,000 m in 14:34 · Week 1 · Translated from English

“I didn’t get as much sleep as usual this week, but I still feel well-rested, no matter how many hours I slept.”

Daniel Ozan
Recreational Runners, Getting Back into Running · Week 4 · Translated from English

What This Study Cannot Show

This study provides the strongest individual statistic in our portfolio and, at the same time, the weakest data set over the entire time period. Both should be mentioned together.

The value of this survey lies in its consistency: Thirteen metrics were collected, all pointing in the same direction, along with independent feedback from a group that closely monitors their bodies on a daily basis. The complete breakdown is available on the ZEROLIMITS product page .

STUDY 05 / 05
Case Study
ZEROLIMITS
Europe and the Middle East

Concentration, when it's not optional.

20 professional pilots and air traffic controllers on active duty, 14 of whom were fully evaluable. Time zone changes, night flights, shifts lasting up to 16 hours. A professional group that undergoes regular medical examinations and for whom alertness is not a matter of convenience.

At a Glance

TYPE OF STUDY
Prospective, open-label observational study under real-world conditions
PARTICIPANTS
20 recorded · 14 usable · 3 with complete before-and-after data
OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
Commercial airline pilots, air traffic controllers, military pilots, helicopter pilots
DURATION
4 weeks per participant
DOSAGE
2 × 15 drops daily
REGION
Europe and the Middle East
PERIOD
January through April 2025
BACKGROUND
Well-being: 7.25/10 on average · Average work shift: 12.2 hours

The Results

Fourteen evaluable participants, four weeks, endpoints measured partly as yes/no questions and partly on a scale from 1 to 10.

79 %

reported feeling less exhausted after four weeks. That’s 11 out of 14 participants; 3 reported no change.

79 %
Less Fatigue
11 of 14
71 %
Better Focus and Greater Mental Clarity
10 of 14
71 %
Better concentration on long flights
10 out of 14 · 3 showed significant improvement, 7 showed some improvement, 1 showed a decline
71 %
Would you recommend ZEROLIMITS to colleagues?
10 of 14 · 3 undecided, 1 no
64 %
Morning Energy of 7 or higher
9 of 14 · Average 7.1 out of 10
50 %
Longer sleep duration
7 out of 14 · 2 significantly longer, 5 slightly longer
8,6 / 10
Mental clarity at the endpoint
; median across all evaluable participants

The three complete sequences

For three participants, both baseline and final values are available for all four dimensions. For all three, all four values improve; not a single one remains the same or decreases.

+3,0
Sleep Quality
Average change on a scale of 1 to 10
+1,7
Energy
Average change
+1,7
Alertness
: Mean change
+1,3
Mental Clarity
Average Change

Of course, three people are not enough to draw a reliable conclusion, but these figures were collected nonetheless.

“I started using ZEROLIMITS during an extremely mentally challenging period while I was retraining to fly a new aircraft. It feels like it has helped me tremendously in managing physical and mental stress, as well as my energy levels and recovery.”

Sérgio Pinto da Silva
Airline Pilot in Type Rating Training · Second Month

“I haven’t noticed any changes. This may be because I’m already taking a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and herbs as supplements. The effect of ZEROLIMITS on me is minimal to nonexistent.”

Gideon Reisel
Participants · Third Week · Feedback with No Observed Effect

What This Study Cannot Show

Methodologically, this is the weakest of our five studies. We are including it nonetheless because it was conducted and because omitting it would be dishonest.

This survey is not suitable for drawing regulatory conclusions, and we do not draw any such conclusions from it. What remains is this: a professional group that works under constant demands for alertness reports findings consistent with those of nurses, runners, and basketball players—including the voice that finds no effect. For shift work and long workdays, we have this on the ZEROLIMITS for Work and Focus .

THE ACTUAL FINDINGS

Where fields of study converge.

A single result could be a coincidence. But the same trend across four separate groups, in four different locations, under four different types of stress is far less likely to be a coincidence. That is precisely where the value of this portfolio lies—not in a single percentage figure.

Three Topics, Four Studies with ZEROLIMITS

Rest and Recovery
Basketball vs. Placebo
+18,2 %
Runner, California
+21 %
Nurses in Vienna
74 %
Pilots
79 %
Focus and Clarity
Basketball vs. Placebo
+13,5 %
Runner, California
+18 %
Nurses in Vienna
53 %
Pilots
71 %
Energy and Propulsion
Basketball vs. Placebo
+12,7 %
Runner, California
+25 %
Nurses in Vienna
63 %
Pilots
64 %

The four studies use different scales and reference values. The values themselves are not directly comparable. However, the general trend is comparable.

The clinical BIOSEN study stands apart methodologically because it was the only one to measure objective blood values. However, it fits into the same overall picture: concentration reached the highest level of significance among all symptoms assessed, and fatigue and sleep improved across all measurement time points. The same three topics, just measured using a different method.

TRANSPARENCY

What these five studies are—and what they are not.

This page explains the limitations of each study. Five points apply to all of them.

Applies to all five studies

Most dietary supplements don’t have a single study of their own. We have five; we present them in full and explain where their limitations lie. What remains is the feedback from 167 people who took BIOSEN or ZEROLIMITS under real-world conditions.

What a methodologically robust follow-up study would require

The basketball study is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. This means that the study design is no longer its biggest weakness. Five points would nevertheless make it significantly stronger.

1
Blinded Analysis
The analysis is conducted using anonymized group labels A and B; unblinding is documented only after the analysis is complete. While participants, the coaching staff, and the test administrators are blinded, this is not the case here.
2
Larger samplesize
: 16 participants provide pooled subjective data but do not allow for a reliable group comparison in the objective performance tests.
3
Longer period of time
Four weeks will show whether and when something happens. They say nothing about long-term effects or tolerance.
4
Objective endpoints
: At least one laboratory value, such as inflammatory markers in the blood, as in the clinical BIOSEN study.
5
Independent implementation
: Planning, data collection, and analysis conducted by an entity with no financial interest, followed by submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The most common questions we get asked about our programs.

Were the VITAMIC studies conducted independently?

No. All five studies were initiated and funded by VITAMIC. This is stated on this page for each individual study and in the transparency section. The BIOSEN clinical trial was led by Dr. Francisco Mera Cordero and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Clínico de San Carlos in Madrid; the data analysis was conducted by the respective study teams.

Has the BIOSEN study been peer-reviewed?

We do not classify it as peer-reviewed. The study was published in 2022 with a DOI in the *Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research* and is therefore permanently citable; however, there is no evidence of a robust, independent peer-review process for this journal. The study’s strength lies in its design: ethics approval, four hospitals, and objective blood test results.

How many people participated in total?

167 participants across five studies: 60 in the BIOSEN clinical trial, 16 in the basketball pilot study, 49 in the observational study with Viennese nursing staff, 22 in the observational study with California runners, and 20 in the observational study with commercial pilots.

What is the difference between a clinical trial, a pilot study, and a post-marketing surveillance study?

A clinical trial has a study protocol, an ethics committee approval, defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and objective measurements. A pilot study is controlled and blinded, but small and exploratory; in our case, it is double-blind. An observational study collects data under real-world conditions before and after intervention, without a control group, and therefore does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Of our five studies, one is a clinical trial, one is a pilot study, and three are observational studies.

Which study had a placebo group?

Only the pilot study involving 16 young basketball players from Science City Jena. Eight players received ZEROLIMITS, and eight received a control solution that was identical in appearance and taste. The study was double-blind: neither the players, nor the coach, nor the study staff knew who was in which group.

How long did the participants take the product?

Four of the five studies lasted four weeks; the BIOSEN clinical trial lasted six weeks. The observational study involving the California runners formally lasted six months, but due to a sharp drop in the response rate, the data were analyzed only up to week four.

Where can I read the original BIOSEN study?

It is freely available under DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2022.47.007512 in the Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Volume 47, Issue 3, December 2022, published under a CC-BY 4.0 license.

THE PRODUCTS BEHIND THE STUDIES

Tested, documented, available.

ZEROLIMITS was evaluated in four studies involving 107 participants, while BIOSEN was evaluated in a clinical study involving 60 participants and blood tests.

The studies involving ZEROLIMITS consist of one placebo-controlled pilot study and three observational studies, primarily based on self-reported data, initiated and funded by VITAMIC. The BIOSEN study is a clinical trial without a control group. Individual results may vary. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle.