*2.2. Study 2* 2.2.1. Participants Study 2

Study two was a double-blind, crossover design with 70 participants randomized to either treatment regime. Each group included both active (2 g SXRG84) and placebo treatments in different orders. Six participants discontinued the intervention for the following reasons: one withdrew consent and provided no reason, one was unable to attend the final appointment due to work commitments, one was unable to attend the final appointment due to medical reasons, one did not want to continue the intervention, one fell pregnant, and one experienced a flare up of gut symptoms but was on the placebo treatment at the time. Therefore, 30 participants (15 female, 15 male) completed the placebo then treatment regime (AB) and 34 (18 female, 16 male) completed the treatment then placebo regime (BA) (Figure S2).

At baseline there were no significant differences between the two groups (placebo then treatment (AB) or treatment then placebo (BA)). There was no significant difference in gender distribution between the two groups with 50–53% female (*p =* 0.8142) in each group (Table 5). Overall, at baseline participants had a median BMI of 29 kg/m2 and an average age of 52. The proportion of participants meeting the estimated average requirement (EAR) for nutrients remained constant across the three timepoints. The nutrients that were at risk (i.e., less than 50% of the study group met the EAR) were calcium, magnesium, and zinc for males and calcium for females (Table S3).

**Table 5.** Baseline, post (6 or 12 weeks) and change data after placebo or SXRG treatment (Study 2) for blood pressure and weight.


Data are presented as number and % for gender, mean ± standard deviation or median (25th and 75th percentile). AA = Placebo for 6 weeks; AB = Placebo for 6 weeks then SXRG treatment for 6 weeks; BB = SXRG treatment for 6 weeks; BA = SXRG treatment for 6 weeks then placebo for 6 weeks. Change determined by median post value (6 or 12 weeks) minus median baseline value. \* *p*-value at baseline determined by *T*-test on normal or log-transformed (§) data between the two baseline regime groups. *p*-value for post measure determined by ANCOVA using absolute data from 6 weeks (for placebo and active group) and 12 weeks (for placebo then active group and active then placebo group) using baseline data as a covariate.
