Health supplements for allergic rhinitis: A mixed-methods systematic review

Area of Science:

• Immunology and Allergy
• Nutritional Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory condition often managed with palliative treatments that may have adverse effects.
• Self-medication with health supplements is increasing, despite limited clinical evidence on their efficacy and safety for allergic rhinitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the efficacy and safety of health supplements for treating allergic rhinitis.
• To identify specific single supplements and combination formulas showing potential benefits.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted, searching seven databases for relevant articles.
• Evidence from 48 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 observational studies was reviewed for quality and bias. No qualitative studies were found.

Main Results:

• Promising evidence supports single supplements like apple polyphenols, tomato extract, spirulina, honey, vitamins C, D, E, and probiotics.
• Beneficial combination formulas include specific probiotic complexes and mixtures containing vitamin D3, quercetin, and Perilla frutescens.

Conclusions:

• Limited high-quality evidence necessitates a shared decision-making approach between healthcare providers and patients regarding supplement use for allergic rhinitis.
• Further rigorous clinical and qualitative research is needed to fully understand the role of health supplements in allergic rhinitis management.