Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study
Few studies have evaluated the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on reducing respiratory infections in preschool children. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of bLf in preschool children with recurrent respiratory infections. Participants were randomly assigned bLf (n = 25) or co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/2/249 |
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| author | Angela Pasinato Mario Fama Giovanni Tripepi Colin Gerard Egan Eugenio Baraldi |
| author_facet | Angela Pasinato Mario Fama Giovanni Tripepi Colin Gerard Egan Eugenio Baraldi |
| author_sort | Angela Pasinato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few studies have evaluated the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on reducing respiratory infections in preschool children. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of bLf in preschool children with recurrent respiratory infections. Participants were randomly assigned bLf (n = 25) or control (<i>n</i> = 25). Outcomes included respiratory infection episodes (RIEs), symptom duration, school absence and medication. Fifty children aged 4.2 ± 0.1 years were included. During the active 4-month phase, median number of RIEs was reduced by 50% in the bLf group [1-episode, interquartile range (IQR): 0–2] vs. control (2, IQR: 1–3; <i>p</i> = 0.02). The proportion of participants with >3 RIEs was significantly lower in bLf (<i>n</i> = 1, 4%) vs. control (<i>n</i> = 7, 28%) with 80% lower odds of upper RIEs in the bLf arm (odds ratio: 0.20, 95% CI:0.06–0.74, <i>p</i> = 0.015). The duration of symptoms (3 vs. 6, <i>p</i> = 0.009) and days absent from school (3 vs. 6, <i>p</i> = 0.15) were lower in the active arm. Over the 2-month follow-up, no significant differences were observed between groups for infection episodes, symptom duration or school absence. However, bLf-treated children received significantly less corticosteroids over the entire 6-month study period (32% vs. 60%; <i>p</i> = 0.047). bLf supplementation significantly reduced the frequency and duration of RIEs in children with decreased corticosteroid use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:38:08Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:38:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-dad52730066049f081f3b84923c5e85c2024-02-23T15:12:30ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-02-0111224910.3390/children11020249Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized StudyAngela Pasinato0Mario Fama1Giovanni Tripepi2Colin Gerard Egan3Eugenio Baraldi4Società Italiana Cure Pediatriche Primarie (SICuPP), Veneto Region, 20126 Milano, ItalySocietà Italiana Cure Pediatriche Primarie (SICuPP), Veneto Region, 20126 Milano, ItalyNational Research Council (CNR), Ospedali Riuniti, 89124 Reggio Calabria, ItalyCEMW SRLS, 56021 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Salute della Donna e del Bambino, Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, ItalyFew studies have evaluated the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on reducing respiratory infections in preschool children. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of bLf in preschool children with recurrent respiratory infections. Participants were randomly assigned bLf (n = 25) or control (<i>n</i> = 25). Outcomes included respiratory infection episodes (RIEs), symptom duration, school absence and medication. Fifty children aged 4.2 ± 0.1 years were included. During the active 4-month phase, median number of RIEs was reduced by 50% in the bLf group [1-episode, interquartile range (IQR): 0–2] vs. control (2, IQR: 1–3; <i>p</i> = 0.02). The proportion of participants with >3 RIEs was significantly lower in bLf (<i>n</i> = 1, 4%) vs. control (<i>n</i> = 7, 28%) with 80% lower odds of upper RIEs in the bLf arm (odds ratio: 0.20, 95% CI:0.06–0.74, <i>p</i> = 0.015). The duration of symptoms (3 vs. 6, <i>p</i> = 0.009) and days absent from school (3 vs. 6, <i>p</i> = 0.15) were lower in the active arm. Over the 2-month follow-up, no significant differences were observed between groups for infection episodes, symptom duration or school absence. However, bLf-treated children received significantly less corticosteroids over the entire 6-month study period (32% vs. 60%; <i>p</i> = 0.047). bLf supplementation significantly reduced the frequency and duration of RIEs in children with decreased corticosteroid use.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/2/249recurrent respiratory infectionspreschool childrenlactoferrincorticosteroidsreal-life |
| spellingShingle | Angela Pasinato Mario Fama Giovanni Tripepi Colin Gerard Egan Eugenio Baraldi Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study Children recurrent respiratory infections preschool children lactoferrin corticosteroids real-life |
| title | Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study |
| title_full | Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study |
| title_fullStr | Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study |
| title_short | Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study |
| title_sort | lactoferrin in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in preschool children a prospective randomized study |
| topic | recurrent respiratory infections preschool children lactoferrin corticosteroids real-life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/2/249 |
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