Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Echinacea Supplementation in Air Travellers

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2012 Jan 10

PMID 22229040

Citations 9

Authors

E Tiralongo

R A Lea

S S Wee

M M Hanna

L R Griffiths

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective. To identify whether a standardised Echinacea formulation is effective in the prevention of respiratory and other symptoms associated with long-haul flights. Methods. 175 adults participated in a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial travelling back from Australia to America, Europe, or Africa for a period of 1-5 weeks on commercial flights via economy class. Participants took Echinacea (root extract, standardised to 4.4 mg alkylamides) or placebo tablets. Participants were surveyed before, immediately after travel, and at 4 weeks after travel regarding upper respiratory symptoms and travel-related quality of life. Results. Respiratory symptoms for both groups increased significantly during travel (P < 0.0005). However, the Echinacea group had borderline significantly lower respiratory symptom scores compared to placebo (P = 0.05) during travel. Conclusions. Supplementation with standardised Echinacea tablets, if taken before and during travel, may have preventive effects against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights.

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