From a sample size PoV, 12 does not even matter, because they are looking for specific phyisiological responses and correlations. Its also good that they don't have a causal hypothesis statement:

> These results could have important implications for the treatment of conditions associated with excessive or persistent inflammation, such as autoimmune diseases.

Because there are a lot of confounds in making causal inferences. I hope they will they do a larger N study..