Clinically substantiated black cumin seed extract addresses broad effects of poor sleep – article

Quality sleep is an important foundation for good physical health, balanced emotional well-being and overall quality of life. However, many U.S. consumers face obstacles in achieving a good night’s rest, from the stresses of daily life to frequent bathroom visits, night sweats and other disruptions. In fact, according to the Sleep Foundation, more than one-third of U.S. adults get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night, and up to 75% of older adults experience insomnia.¹

Of particular concern is the fact that insufficient sleep can result in more than just feeling tired the next day. “Sleep, stress and immunity are all closely linked in a way that's crucial for our overall health,” explained Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, MS, Ph.D., market development manager for Akay Bioactives. “When we're stressed, it can mess with our sleep, and not getting enough good sleep can weaken our immune system. This balance between stress, sleep and immunity is essential for keeping our energy levels up, repairing our cells, maintaining a healthy metabolism, thinking clearly and having a strong immune response.”

As consumers become more educated about this issue, they are turning to the supplement industry for natural, non-habit-forming, effective products. According to the most recent data from Nutrition Business Journal, sales of healthy sleep supplements (excluding CBD) grew by 2.3% in 2022 — surpassing the growth rate of the overall supplement market — to reach $1.3 billion.²

ThymoDream, a patented black cumin seed extract, is uniquely poised to deliver the holistic, gentle and effective benefits desired by this growing consumer base. By helping to balance the body’s melatonin and cortisol levels naturally, ThymoDream is an effective solution for promoting sleep, managing stress and supporting immunity all at once. Plus, it’s backed by more than eight published studies, and crafted with proprietary cold-press technology that yields high levels of bioactives without the use of heat or solvents.

Comprehensive scientific backing

ThymoDream stands out in the market largely because of its extensive research support. “We have over eight published studies, including both clinical and preclinical trials, showing how effective and safe it is at improving sleep quality, reducing stress and boosting overall wellness,” said MacDonald. “You only need a low dose of 200 mg before bedtime to see results.”

Sleep progresses through various stages, but experts agree that achieving NREM3 and REM sleep is crucial for restorative rest and essential for physical, emotional and mental recovery.

In one clinical study, participants who supplemented with 200 mg ThymoDream daily for just seven days experienced significant increases in NREM3 and REM sleep durations, by 82.8% and 31.6%, respectively.³ Practically speaking, in one week’s time, ThymoDream nearly doubled NREM3 sleep time from 25 minutes to 47 minutes on average, and increased REM sleep from an average of 42 minutes to more than 55 minutes.

Researchers also wanted to explore the longer-term effects of ThymoDream. One clinical study recruited volunteers who reported struggling with sleep issues and supplemented them with 200 mg of ThymoDream daily for 90 days. By day seven, 70% of participants reported satisfaction with their sleep patterns and, by day 14, that percentage jumped to 79%.⁴ Scores from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) confirmed that ThymoDream improved both sleep quality and daytime functioning in the treatment group. Additionally, analysis using the Perceived Stress Scale showed a significant reduction in stress among those using ThymoDream.

One year later, researchers confirmed these findings using a combination of actigraphy and subjective questionnaires. In this study, which involved participants with non-restorative sleep issues, those using 200 mg per night of ThymoDream experienced a remarkable 75.3% improvement in sleep quality from baseline within just seven days.⁵ Other significant improvements included a 6.1% increase in sleep efficiency, 15.2% longer total sleep time (nearly an extra hour), 40.4% reduction in sleep onset latency (falling asleep in just 15 minutes on average), and 19.8% less wakefulness after sleep onset (an average reduction of 10 minutes).

Supporting stress management

In addition to its sleep-enhancing benefits, ThymoDream has been demonstrated to significantly reduce perceived stress levels. In one study, participants who took 200 mg of ThymoDream daily for 28 days experienced a 27.3% total decrease in Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) scores. Specifically, anxiety scores decreased by 32.6% and stress scores decreased by 22%.⁶ Long-term use, up to 90 days at the same dosage, showed sustained benefits, including a drop in cortisol levels by 29.7%.⁷

Boosting the immune system

It’s widely acknowledged that insufficient sleep can exacerbate stress and weaken the body’s immunity. ThymoDream not only supports immune health indirectly by promoting a better night’s rest but may also impact it directly. In one study, supplementing daily with 200 mg of ThymoDream significantly enhanced participants’ immune health over the course of 90 days.⁸ In fact, key immunity markers IgG (the most abundant antibody) and IgM (the largest antibody) increased by 35.6% and 16.4% from baseline, respectively.

How it works

ThymoDream is a black cumin seed extract that is standardized to thymoquinone, potent bioactives known to modulate the hypothalamic/pituitary/adrenal axis and the body's levels of melatonin (known as the sleep hormone) and cortisol (known as the stress hormone). By keeping these hormones in balance, ThymoDream calms the body and mind for better sleep, stress resilience and immune health.

In fact, research shows that daily supplementation of 200 mg ThymoDream for 90 days can increase melatonin production by up to 61% and suppress orexins (the neuropeptides involved in cortisol release) by 33%.⁹

ThymoDream is free of melatonin and non-habit-forming, offering consumers a safer profile for long-term use. For formulators, ThymoDream is available in an oil-soluble format, allowing for easy integration into various delivery systems, including liquid-filled capsules, softgels, gummies and functional foods and beverages. Plus, its low dosage of just 200 mg per serving combined with its non-GMO sunflower lecithin base ensures a mild, light peppery flavor profile that can be easily masked. Finally, ThymoDream offers all the clean label credentials demanded by today’s consumers — it’s organic, vegan, ethically sourced, and fully traceable, free of GMOs, gluten, and allergens.

References:

1. Sleep Foundation. 100+ Sleep Statistics.

2. Nutrition Business Journal. Condition Specific Report 2023.

3. Syam Das S, et al. “Thymoquinone-rich black cumin oil improves sleep quality, alleviates anxiety/stress on healthy subjects with sleep disturbances – a pilot polysomnography study.” J. Herb. Med. 32 (2022), 100507. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HERMED.2021.100507.

4. Mohan ME et al. “A proprietary black cumin oil extract (Nigella sativa) (BlaQmax^®) modulates stress-sleep-immunity axis safely: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.” Front Nutr. 2023 Apr 17:10:1152680.
5. Mohan ME et al. “Exploring the short-term influence of a proprietary oil extract of black cumin (Nigella sativa) on non-restorative sleep: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled actigraphy study.” Front Nutr. 2024 Jan 15:10:1200118.

6. Ibid Syam Das.

7. Ibid Mohan 2023.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid. Mohan 2024.