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Published on: January 7, 2019
Red propolis supplementation does not decrease acute respiratory events in stunted preschool children: A paired
Renata Tenório Antunes Moura1, Nassib Bezerra Bueno1, Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto2
1Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus AC Simões - Av Lourival Melo Mota, s / n, Cidade Universitária - Maceió - AL, CEP: 57072-900, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.
Insights
Red propolis supplementation did not reduce the frequency of acute respiratory infections in stunted preschool children. A 3% dilution may have been insufficient for a significant effect.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Nutrition
Background:
- Childhood stunting is associated with increased susceptibility to infections.
- Red propolis is a natural product with potential immunomodulatory properties.
- Evaluating interventions to reduce respiratory infections in vulnerable populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of red propolis supplementation in decreasing the incidence of acute respiratory infections in stunted preschool children.
- To determine if red propolis can mitigate respiratory complications in this population.
Main Methods:
- A non-randomized, pair-matched clinical trial involving 70 stunted preschool children over 1 year.
- Participants received daily honey or honey with 3% red propolis.
- Respiratory infections, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical markers were monitored.
Main Results:
- Red propolis supplementation did not significantly decrease the frequency of acute respiratory infections compared to the control group (2 vs 3 infections).
- No significant differences were observed in anthropometric measurements or biochemical parameters (hemogram, IGF-1, immunoglobulin E, G, M) between groups.
- The most common symptoms included coughing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and wheezing.
Conclusions:
- Red propolis supplementation at a 3% dilution did not reduce the incidence of respiratory infections in stunted preschool children over a one-year period.
- The observed lack of efficacy may be attributed to an insufficient dilution of red propolis.
- Further research with different concentrations may be warranted.
Background & Aims:
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of "red propolis" supplementation in the frequency of acute respiratory infections incidence in stunted preschool children. We hypothesized that the "red" propolis supplementation is effective in the reduce frequency of acute respiratory complications in stunted children.
Methods:
This is a non-randomized, pair-matched clinical trial with 70 children, ranging from 1 to 5 years old, followed for 1 year, which were paired into two groups according to age, sex, and stunting classification. The children were in the day hospital regimen of CREN and received 5 meals/day and an additional 8 ml of honey or honey with "red propolis" in a 3% dilution. The children had access to nutritional, psychological, dental, and physician care. Respiratory complications were recorded in a pre-existing protocol of the institution by the same pediatrician, who was blind for the children's allocation. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests such as hemogram, IGF-1, and immunoglobulin E, G, M were conducted.
Results:
The most prevalent symptoms were coughing, runny nose, nasal congestion and wheezing. The use of "red propolis" did not decrease the frequency of infections between the control and propolis groups, respectively (2 [1-7] vs 3 [1-7], p = 0.10), which was within the estimated by the Pan American Health Organization. There were no differences between groups in anthropometric and biochemical parameters.
Conclusion:
Supplementation with "red propolis" did not reduce the number of infections in stunted children over 1 year. Possibly, the dilution percentage (3%) may have been insufficient to allow effective action. The protocol of published in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4n7j6h).
