ACUTE EFFECTS OF A STANDARDIZED POLYHERBAL SUPPLEMENT ON HALITOSIS, DAYTIME SLEEPINESS, AND FATIGUE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigated the acute effects of a standardized natural polyherbal formulation (Osuvita™) on halitosis, daytime sleepiness, alertness, and fatigue among undergraduate students at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Product quality and safety were evaluated through physicochemical, microbiological, heavy metal, and thin-layer chromatography fingerprinting analyses, while phytochemical properties were assessed using antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). A cross-sectional survey of 400 undergraduates assessed the prevalence of halitosis, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue and examined associated lifestyle factors. Subsequently, a 7-day intervention study evaluated symptom changes following consumption of the formulation using repeated-measures analysis. The formulation met safety standards, with microbial counts within acceptable limits and heavy metal levels below permissible thresholds. It showed high AA (87.64%), with TPC and TFC of 40 mg/g and 5.84 mg/g, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported halitosis and fatigue was 14%, while 20% reported daytime sleepiness. Halitosis was associated with tongue coating, stress, dry mouth, low water intake, and tooth-brushing frequency (p < 0.05). Daytime sleepiness was strongly linked to late-night academic and social activities (p < 0.001), while fatigue was associated with poor diet quality, short sleep duration, and emotional stress. After 7 days of consumption, significant reductions were observed in halitosis (p < 0.001) and daytime sleepiness (p < 0.001), with moderate improvement in fatigue (p = 0.004). Sensory acceptability was high with minor textural concerns, indicating the formulation’s potential for short-term improvement in oral and functional health; long-term effects warrant further research.