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. 2018 Sep-Oct;12(5):44-50.

Effects of orally administered lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on symptoms of the common cold

Kouichirou Shin  1 , Hiroyuki Wakabayashi  1 , Chihiro Sugita  2 , Hiroki Yoshida  2 , Keizo Sato  2 , Tohru Sonoda  3 , Koji Yamauchi  1 , Fumiaki Abe  1 , Masahiko Kurokawa  2
Affiliations

Effects of orally administered lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on symptoms of the common cold

Kouichirou Shin et al. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2018 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: Lactoferrin (LF) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are present in human saliva. LF has been demonstrated to show antibacterial and antiviral activities. In saliva, LPO catalyzes the hydrogen peroxide-dependent oxidation of thiocyanate to hypothiocyanite that exhibits antimicrobial and antiviral properties. A randomized, open-label, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted to examine the effectiveness of sucking tablets containing LF and LPO (LF+LPO) in alleviating symptoms of the common cold and/or influenza infection.

Methods: A total of 407 subjects were randomized into two groups, treatment and non-treatment groups, and each group was further classified into subgroups habitually wearing a face mask, washing their hands, or gargling. The common cold, influenza, and gastrointestinal symptoms were used to evaluate the effectiveness, and the incidence and duration of symptoms were statistically analyzed.

Results: The incidence and duration of common cold, gastrointestinal symptoms, and influenza infection were not statistically different between treatment and non-treatment groups. LF+LPO tablets were moderately effective in reducing the incidence and duration of common cold symptoms in the subgroup that did not gargle and especially to shorten significantly the duration of fever higher than 38°C in the subgroup that did not wear a face mask.

Conclusion: The results suggested that the effect of ingestion of the tablet is not obvious in alleviating common cold symptoms but may be helpful when the subjects do not follow precautionary measures such as gargling and the use of a protective face mask.

Keywords: Common cold syndromes; face mask; gargling; lactoferrin; lactoperoxidase.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial schedule. During recruitment period, informed consent was obtained, a background survey was performed, and subjects were randomized into two groups. During treatment period, subjects in the treatment group received tablets containing lactoferrin+lactoperoxidase and the non-treatment group did not receive any tablets
Figure 2
Figure 2
Participant flowchart. Of the 414 volunteers, seven were excluded based on the exclusion criteria. Finally, 407 subjects were randomized into treatment and non-treatment groups. In each group, subjects who did not hand in a diary according to protocol and/or did not consume the test tablets at an uptake rate more than 67% were not included in the analysis. The data obtained from 129 in the treatment group and 136 in the non-treatment group were statistically analyzed
Figure 3
Figure 3
Subgroup analysis of the duration of common cold symptoms. Duration of common cold symptoms was statistically compared between treatment group and non-treatment group, in the subgroup with or without face mask-wearing habit, handwashing habit, and gargling habit
Figure 4
Figure 4
Subgroup analysis of the duration of fever (body temperature ≥38°C). Duration of fever (body temperature ≥38°C) was statistically compared between treatment group and non-treatment group, in the subgroup with or without face mask-wearing habit, handwashing habit, and gargling habit
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