Effects of a Combination of Elderberry and Reishi Extracts on the Duration and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Subjects
2.2. Study Products
2.3. Study Outcomes and Data Collection
2.4. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Study Data, Compliance and Baseline Characteristics of the Subjects
3.2. Respiratory Tract Infections Incidence and Duration and Severity of Related Symptoms
3.3. Safety Parameters
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Control Group (n = 30) | Extract Group (n = 30) | p between Groups | |
---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 82.7 ± 9.2 | 85.9 ± 7.8 | 0.155 |
Sex | 0.739 | ||
Men | 5 (16.7%) | 6 (20%) | |
Women | 25 (83.3%) | 24 (60%) | |
Weight (kg) | 68.1 ± 13.9 | 63.6 ± 10.9 | 0.176 |
BMI (kg/m2) | 26.1 ± 4.6 | 25.4 ± 3.8 | 0.478 |
Smoking habit | 0.109 | ||
Current smoker | 4 (13.3%) | 2 (6.7%) | |
Former smoker | 1 (3.3%) | 6 (20%) | |
No smokers | 25 (83.3%) | 22 (73.3%) | |
Physical activity | 0.519 | ||
Very low | 23 (76.7%) | 25 (83.3%) | |
Low | 7 (23.3%) | 5 (16.7%) | |
Systolic BP (mm Hg) | 126.2 ± 14.7 | 130.3 ± 10.4 | 0.218 |
Diastolic BP (mm Hg) | 70.7 ± 10.2 | 71.8 ± 9.4 | 0.667 |
Sleeping medication | 10 (33.3%) | 8 (26.7%) | 0.389 |
Hypertension medication | 19 (63.3%) | 18 (60.0%) | 0.518 |
Control Group IR (SD) | Extract Group IR (SD) | IR Ratio (95% CI) | IR Decrease, % | p Value c | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common cold | 0.321 (0.188) | 0.240 (0.135) | 0.750 (0.320–1.759) | 25.0 | 0.508 |
ILI a | 0.494 (0.188) | 0.523 (0.174) | 1.059 (0.514–2.182) | −0.06 | 0.978 |
Respiratory infections b | 0.921 (0.273) | 0.834 (0.224) | 0.906 (0.523–1.570) | 9.4 | 0.725 |
Control Group IR (SD) | Extract Group IR (SD) | IR Ratio (95% CI) | IR Decrease, % | p-Value d | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cough | 0.558 (0.202) | 0.552 (0.177) | 0.989 (0.495–1.976) | 1.1 | 0.976 |
Nasal congestion | 0.478 (0.200) | 0.357 (0.141) | 0.747 (0.334–1.6719 | 25.3 | 0.478 |
Sore throat | 0.356 (0.211) | 0.108 (0.073) | 0.302 (0.095–0.963) | 69.8 | 0.043 |
Fever | 0.244 (0.112) | 0.128 (0.717) | 0.528 (0.52–1.834) | 47.2 | 0.315 |
Headache | 0.128 (0.937) | 0.102 (0.070) | 0.798 (0.266–2.396) | 21.2 | 0.688 |
Muscle/Bone Pain | 0.146 (0.92) | 0.138 (0.794) | 0.941 (0.327–2.713) | 5.9 | 0.911 |
Tiredness/Malaise | 0.180 (0.101) | 0.342 (0.155) | 1.897 (0.755–4.770) | −89.7 | 0.173 |
Local Respiratory Symptoms a | 1.466 (0.352) | 1.031 (0.239) | 0.703 (0.440–1.124) | 29.7 | 0.141 |
Systemic Symptoms b | 0.754 (0.233) | 0.656 (.189) | 0.870 (0.500–1.511) | 23 | 0.62 |
Total Symptoms c | 2.185 (0.410) | 1.808 (0.316) | 0.828 (0.584–1.174) | 27.2 | 0.289 |
Control Group | Extract Group | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nausea IR (SD) a | 0.100 (0.057) | 0.166 (0.074) | ||
Lack of appetite IR (SD) a | 0.666 (0.149) | 0.633 (0.145) | ||
Sleeping disturbance IR (SD) a | 0.899 (0.325) | 0.372 (0.152) * | ||
Baseline | End of intervention | Baseline | End of intervention | |
Weight (kg) b | 68.4 ± 14.2 | 67.3 ± 13.4 | 64.2 ± 10.6 | 63.8 ± 9.5 |
Systolic BP (mm Hg) b | 126.8 ± 15 | 127.8 ± 10.7 | 130.6 ± 10.4 | 126.5 ± 9.1 |
Diastolic BP (mm Hg) b | 70.5 ± 10.7 | 72 ± 8.1 | 72 ± 9.5 | 68.3 ± 8.7 |
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Gracián-Alcaide, C.; Maldonado-Lobón, J.A.; Ortiz-Tikkakoski, E.; Gómez-Vilchez, A.; Fonollá, J.; López-Larramendi, J.L.; Olivares, M.; Blanco-Rojo, R. Effects of a Combination of Elderberry and Reishi Extracts on the Duration and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 8259. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228259
Gracián-Alcaide C, Maldonado-Lobón JA, Ortiz-Tikkakoski E, Gómez-Vilchez A, Fonollá J, López-Larramendi JL, Olivares M, Blanco-Rojo R. Effects of a Combination of Elderberry and Reishi Extracts on the Duration and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10(22):8259. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228259
Chicago/Turabian StyleGracián-Alcaide, Carlos, Jose A. Maldonado-Lobón, Elisabeth Ortiz-Tikkakoski, Alejandro Gómez-Vilchez, Juristo Fonollá, Jose L. López-Larramendi, Mónica Olivares, and Ruth Blanco-Rojo. 2020. "Effects of a Combination of Elderberry and Reishi Extracts on the Duration and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial" Applied Sciences 10, no. 22: 8259. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228259
APA StyleGracián-Alcaide, C., Maldonado-Lobón, J. A., Ortiz-Tikkakoski, E., Gómez-Vilchez, A., Fonollá, J., López-Larramendi, J. L., Olivares, M., & Blanco-Rojo, R. (2020). Effects of a Combination of Elderberry and Reishi Extracts on the Duration and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Applied Sciences, 10(22), 8259. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228259