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Herbal Preparation May Prevent Respiratory Tract Infection
in Children Yael Waknine
March 2, 2004 — An herbal preparation containing echinacea,
propolis, and vitamin C may be effective in preventive
respiratory tract infections in children, according to
results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
multicenter study published in the March issue of the
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
The herbal preparation (Chizukit) is made up of 50 mg/mL of
echinacea, 50
mg/mL of propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C. Echinacea
is thought to have cytokine-modulating, macrophage,
and natural killer cell activity, according to Herman
A. Cohen, MD, and colleagues, from the Pediatric and
Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic in Petach
Tikva, Israel.
Propolis has been shown to have antimicrobial, anticancer,
and general anti-inflammatory effects, as well as some
antiviral effect on herpes simplex virus type 1 and the
influenza virus. Vitamin C is thought to increase
proliferative responses of T lymphocytes in vitro, and to
induce production of interferon in cell culture. Because
concentrations of vitamin C are up to 100 times greater in
phagocytes and lymphocytes than in plasma, vitamin C may
have a physiologic role in these immune system cells,
according to the authors.
[snip]
"This decrease in upper respiratory tract infections in
young children would have significant economic and social
ramifications," comments Shilpa Sangvai, MD, from the
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, in an
accompanying Journal Club report."
[snip]
Further info at link below.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:217-221, 222-224 Reviewed
by Gary D. Vogin, MD Yael Waknine is a freelance writer for
Medscape. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/470840?mpid=25713
----------
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Mar;158(3):217-21.
Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea,
propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract
infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-
controlled, multicenter study.
Cohen HA, Varsano I, Kahan E, Sarrell EM, Uziel Y. Pediatric
and Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petach Tikva,
Israel. [email protected]
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a
preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in
the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children
during a 12-week winter period.
DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
SUBJECTS: Four hundred thirty children, aged 1 to 5 years,
were randomized to an herbal extract preparation (n = 215)
or a placebo elixir (n = 215).
INTERVENTION: Administration of an herbal preparation
(Chizukit) containing 50 mg/mL of echinacea, 50 mg/mL of
propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C, or placebo (5.0 mL and
7.5 mL twice daily for ages 1 to 3 years and 4 to 5 years,
respectively) for 12 weeks.
RESULTS: Significant mean +/- SD reductions of illnesses
were seen in the Chizukit group in the number of illness
episodes, 138 vs 308 (55% reduction); number of episodes per
child, 0.9 +/- 1.1 vs 1.8 +/- 1.3 (50% reduction, P<.001);
and number of days with fever per child, 2.1 +/- 2.9 vs 5.4
+/- 4.4) (62% reduction, P<.001). The total number of
illness days and duration of individual episodes were also
significantly lower in the Chizukit group. Adverse drug
reactions were rare, mild, and transient.
CONCLUSION: A preventive effect of a product containing
echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C on the incidence of
respiratory tract infections was observed.
http://tinyurl.com/2975r http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez-
/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A
bstract&list_uids=14993078
in Children Yael Waknine
March 2, 2004 — An herbal preparation containing echinacea,
propolis, and vitamin C may be effective in preventive
respiratory tract infections in children, according to
results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
multicenter study published in the March issue of the
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
The herbal preparation (Chizukit) is made up of 50 mg/mL of
echinacea, 50
mg/mL of propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C. Echinacea
is thought to have cytokine-modulating, macrophage,
and natural killer cell activity, according to Herman
A. Cohen, MD, and colleagues, from the Pediatric and
Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic in Petach
Tikva, Israel.
Propolis has been shown to have antimicrobial, anticancer,
and general anti-inflammatory effects, as well as some
antiviral effect on herpes simplex virus type 1 and the
influenza virus. Vitamin C is thought to increase
proliferative responses of T lymphocytes in vitro, and to
induce production of interferon in cell culture. Because
concentrations of vitamin C are up to 100 times greater in
phagocytes and lymphocytes than in plasma, vitamin C may
have a physiologic role in these immune system cells,
according to the authors.
[snip]
"This decrease in upper respiratory tract infections in
young children would have significant economic and social
ramifications," comments Shilpa Sangvai, MD, from the
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, in an
accompanying Journal Club report."
[snip]
Further info at link below.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:217-221, 222-224 Reviewed
by Gary D. Vogin, MD Yael Waknine is a freelance writer for
Medscape. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/470840?mpid=25713
----------
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Mar;158(3):217-21.
Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea,
propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract
infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-
controlled, multicenter study.
Cohen HA, Varsano I, Kahan E, Sarrell EM, Uziel Y. Pediatric
and Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petach Tikva,
Israel. [email protected]
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a
preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in
the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children
during a 12-week winter period.
DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
SUBJECTS: Four hundred thirty children, aged 1 to 5 years,
were randomized to an herbal extract preparation (n = 215)
or a placebo elixir (n = 215).
INTERVENTION: Administration of an herbal preparation
(Chizukit) containing 50 mg/mL of echinacea, 50 mg/mL of
propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C, or placebo (5.0 mL and
7.5 mL twice daily for ages 1 to 3 years and 4 to 5 years,
respectively) for 12 weeks.
RESULTS: Significant mean +/- SD reductions of illnesses
were seen in the Chizukit group in the number of illness
episodes, 138 vs 308 (55% reduction); number of episodes per
child, 0.9 +/- 1.1 vs 1.8 +/- 1.3 (50% reduction, P<.001);
and number of days with fever per child, 2.1 +/- 2.9 vs 5.4
+/- 4.4) (62% reduction, P<.001). The total number of
illness days and duration of individual episodes were also
significantly lower in the Chizukit group. Adverse drug
reactions were rare, mild, and transient.
CONCLUSION: A preventive effect of a product containing
echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C on the incidence of
respiratory tract infections was observed.
http://tinyurl.com/2975r http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez-
/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A
bstract&list_uids=14993078