CLINICAL TRIAL article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1621709
Metabolic reset detoxification program improves antioxidant balance and gut microbiome in individuals transitioning to a healthier diet
Provisionally accepted
Chinmayee Panda1
Ralph Kruse2
Kaya Williams1Brea Nance1
Maruti Gudavalli2Shirin Pourafshar1
Brandon Metzger1
Slavko Komarnytsky3*- 1Standard Process, Kannapolis, United States
- 2Keiser University, West Palm Beach, United States
- 3North Carolina State University, Raleigh, United States
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A healthy diet helps transition individuals towards numerous long-term metabolic benefits but is challenging to maintain. Supplementation with additional whole food-based concentrates and herbs may support this shift by enhancing metabolic resilience. This randomized, controlled, crossover study evaluated a 21-day detoxification program emphasizing plant foods and whole food supplementation on metabolic detoxification, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota composition. Participants followed a plant-based diet for 7 days, with lean proteins introduced from days 8-21. Whole food supplements rich in polyphenols, glucosinolates, and prebiotic fibers were included to support metabolic and gastrointestinal function. The intervention group exhibited 9% (P < 0.0001) reduction in ROS-associated oxidative stress compared to diet alone, suggesting enhanced redox balance. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited higher urinary creatinine levels, indicating enhanced kidney filtration efficiency (P = 0.03). Self-reported stress levels decreased by 36% (P = 0.049) in the intervention group, with a notable reduction in anxiety related to future uncertainty, demonstrating the psychological benefits of dietary supplementation. Gut microbiome analysis revealed a reduction in Proteobacteria, a phylum associated with chronic metabolic and inflammatory diseases, and beneficial increases in Ruminococcus gnavus, Lactobacillus zeae, and Roseburia faecis, which contribute to gut barrier integrity and butyrate production. These findings highlight the potential of whole food-based supplementation to enhance dietary transitions by reducing oxidative stress, supporting kidney function, alleviating psychological stress, and modulating gut microbiota composition.
Keywords: Whole food, Botanical, Detoxification program, Oxidative Stress, Gut Microbiota, Metabolic health, Plant-based diet, Healthier Lifestyle
Received: 09 May 2025; Accepted: 19 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Panda, Kruse, Williams, Nance, Gudavalli, Pourafshar, Metzger and Komarnytsky. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Slavko Komarnytsky, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.