Abstract Title:

Reduction of common cold symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract Source:

Br J Nutr. 2010 Aug 23:1-5. Epub 2010 Aug 23. PMID: 20727236

Abstract Author(s):

Stephanie Roll, Marc Nocon, Stefan N Willich

Article Affiliation:

Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Centre, Luisenstrasse 57, 10098 Berlin, Germany.

Abstract:

Dietary supplements have been suggested in the prevention of the common cold, but previous investigations have been inconsistent. The present study was designed to determine the preventive effect of a dietary supplement from fruits and vegetables on common cold symptoms. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, healthcare professionals (mainly nursing staff aged 18-65 years) from a university hospital in Berlin, Germany, were randomised to four capsules of dietary supplement (Juice Plus+(R)) or matching placebo daily for 8 months, including a 2-month run-in period. The number of days with moderate or severe common cold symptoms within 6 months (primary outcome) was assessed by diary self-reports. We determined means and 95 % CI, and differences between the two groups were analysed by ANOVA. A total of 529 subjects were included into the primary analysis (Juice Plus+(R): 263, placebo: 266). The mean age of the participants was 39.9 (sd 10.3) years, and 80 % of the participants were female. The mean number of days with moderate or severe common cold symptoms was 7.6 (95 % CI 6.5, 8.8) in the Juice Plus+(R) group and 9.5 (8.4, 10.6) in the placebo group (P = 0.023). The mean number of total days with any common cold symptoms was similar in the Juice Plus+(R) and in the placebo groups (29.4 (25.8, 33.0) v. 30.7 (27.1, 34.3), P = 0.616). Intake of a dietary supplement from fruits and vegetables was associated with a 20 % reduction of moderate or severe common cold symptom days in healthcare professionals particularly exposed to patient contact.

Study Type : Human Study

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