Effect of Multi-Antioxidant Supplement on Lipid Profile, Occupational Fatigue, Work Stress, and Hair Cortisol in Administrative Workers with and Without Obesity: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Work stress (WS), occupational fatigue (OF), and Burnout syndrome (BS) among administrative workers are associated with negative psychosocial and metabolic effects. Although antioxidant-rich nutritional strategies have been proposed to help manage stress, evidence from real-world occupational settings is still limited. This study evaluated the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of a multi-antioxidant dietary supplement 2.0 (DS2.0; apple polyphenols, [APP], astaxanthin [AXT], and fucoxanthin [FXT]; 387:12:1 ratio) and explored its association with metabolic parameters, OF, psychosocial outcomes, and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in administrative workers with and without obesity. Methods: A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted among 22 workers, who received DS2.0 (52.13 mg/day, n = 17) or a placebo (n = 5) for 30 days. TAC was analytically assessed using standardized assays. Metabolic outcomes (lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose), psychosocial variables (SOFI-SM, CESQT/SBI, and IMSS tests), and HCC (competitive immunoassay) were evaluated before and after supplementation. Statistical analyses included within-group pre–post comparisons, independent-sample tests, and effect size estimation. Results: DS2.0 demonstrated high TAC. Supplementation was associated with reductions in total lipids, total cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol, as well as decreases in OF, BS, and WS scores. HCC decreased in the overall sample (217.19 vs. 31.64 pg/mg; p = 0.000) and among workers with obesity (276.80 vs. 34.13 pg/mg; p = 0.002). Stress-related symptoms, including sleep deprivation, exhaustion, appetite changes, difficulty waking, and palpitations, also improved (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: An antioxidant-rich DS2.0 supplement may be associated with psychosocial and stress-related biomarkers; however, these exploratory findings require confirmation in larger randomized controlled trials. Trial registration: ISRCTN 12762846.