scholarly journals Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Susan Wieland ◽  
Vanessa Piechotta ◽  
Termeh Feinberg ◽  
Emilie Ludeman ◽  
Brian Hutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

Abstract Background Elderberry has traditionally been used to prevent and treat respiratory problems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been interest in elderberry supplements to treat or prevent illness, but also concern that elderberry might overstimulate the immune system and increase the risk of ‘cytokine storm’. We aimed to determine benefits and harms of elderberry for the prevention and treatment of viral respiratory infections, and to assess the relationship between elderberry supplements and negative health impacts associated with overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Methods We conducted a systematic review and searched six databases, four research registers, and two preprint sites for studies. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data from studies, assessed risk of bias using Cochrane tools, and evaluated certainty of estimates using GRADE. Outcomes included new illnesses and the severity and duration of illness. Results We screened 1187 records and included five randomized trials on elderberry for the treatment or prevention of viral respiratory illness. We did not find any studies linking elderberry to clinical inflammatory outcomes. However, we found three studies measuring production of cytokines ex vivo after ingestion of elderberry. Elderberry may not reduce the risk of developing the common cold; it may reduce the duration and severity of colds, but the evidence is uncertain. Elderberry may reduce the duration of influenza but the evidence is uncertain. Compared to oseltamivir, an elderberry-containing product may be associated with a lower risk of influenza complications and adverse events. We did not find evidence on elderberry and clinical outcomes related to inflammation. However, we found evidence that elderberry has some effect on inflammatory markers, although this effect may decline with ongoing supplementation. One small study compared elderberry to diclofenac (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and provided some evidence that elderberry is as effective or less effective than diclofenac in cytokine reduction over time. Conclusions Elderberry may be a safe option for treating viral respiratory illness, and there is no evidence that it overstimulates the immune system. However, the evidence on both benefits and harms is uncertain and information from recent and ongoing studies is necessary to make firm conclusions.

scholarly journals Microbiota Modulating Nutritional Approaches to Countering the Effects of Viral Respiratory Infections Including SARS-CoV-2 through Promoting Metabolic and Immune Fitness with Probiotics and Plant Bioactives

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanvi Shinde ◽  
Philip M Hansbro ◽  
Sukhwinder Singh Sohal ◽  
Peter Dingle ◽  
Rajaraman Eri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Mechanistic Study ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

Viral respiratory infections (VRIs) can spread quickly and cause enormous morbidity and mortality worldwide. These events pose serious threats to public health due to time lags in developing vaccines to activate the acquired immune system. The high variability of people’s symptomatic responses to viral infections, as illustrated in the current COVID-19 pandemic, indicates the potential to moderate the severity of morbidity from VRIs. Growing evidence supports roles for probiotic bacteria (PB) and prebiotic dietary fiber (DF) and other plant nutritional bioactives in modulating immune functions. While human studies help to understand the epidemiology and immunopathology of VRIs, the chaotic nature of viral transmissions makes it difficult to undertake mechanistic study where the pre-conditioning of the metabolic and immune system could be beneficial. However, recent experimental studies have significantly enhanced our understanding of how PB and DF, along with plant bioactives, can significantly modulate innate and acquired immunity responses to VRIs. Synbiotic combinations of PB and DF potentiate increased benefits primarily through augmenting the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate. These and specific plant polyphenolics help to regulate immune responses to both restrain VRIs and temper the neutrophil response that can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This review highlights the current understanding of the potential impact of targeted nutritional strategies in setting a balanced immune tone for viral clearance and reinforcing homeostasis. This knowledge may guide the development of public health tactics and the application of functional foods with PB and DF components as a nutritional approach to support countering VRI morbidity.

scholarly journals A Review of the Role Micronutrient Status in the Elderly Plays in Their Immune Response to Viral Respiratory Infections and the Potential Compromising Effects Medications Might Cause

2020 ◽  
pp. 59-85
Author(s):  
Michael P. Wakeman
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Micronutrient Status ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Healthy Immune System ◽  
Viral Respiratory

The elderly are a growing proportion of the global population. They are more susceptible to non-communicable diseases and respiratory viral diseases like influenza and covid19, which may lead to increased levels of morbidity and mortality than those of a younger generation. It is also reported that co-morbidities, especially diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease contribute significantly to the prognosis with these types of infections. That the immune system operates in a less efficient way as an individual ages, is now well understood and likely contributes significantly to this situation. The role of certain micronutrients in maintaining a healthy immune system is well recognised and demonstrated to play an important role both in preventing and controlling infection. However, for a number of reasons many elderly individuals have a less than optimal intake of many of the micronutrients that support the immune system. This review examines the contributory roles an aging immune system, suboptimal intake of micronutrients, comorbidities and the impact of the intake of medications typically used to treat them can play in the outcome of viral respiratory infections. It identifies the need for supplementation, especially in the elderly to support the immune system.

Asthma: Predisposing Factors

1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 100-127
Keyword(s):  
Lung Function ◽  
Airway Hyperresponsiveness ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Predisposing Factors ◽  
Lung Function Tests ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Healthy Infants ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

Before the development of any respiratory illness, 124 healthy infants had their lung function assessed. Infants in the lowest third subsequently had a wheezing illness nearly four times the rate of the others. The authors "postulate that the differences in lung function found after lower respiratory illness in infancy may be due, at least in part, to differences in lung function that were present before the illness occurred." The authors speculate that endogenous airway hyperresponsiveness may predispose infants. But other data do not demonstrate a good correlation between infant airway hyperresponsiveness and lung function tests. The authors conclude that the structure of airways may predispose some infants to wheezing in association with viral respiratory infections.

scholarly journals Hajj-associated viral respiratory infections: A systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillipe Gautret ◽  
Samir Benkouiten ◽  
Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq ◽  
Ziad A. Memish
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

scholarly journals Probiotics in Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections and Neuroinflammatory Disorders

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 4891
Author(s):  
Roghayeh Shahbazi ◽  
Hamed Yasavoli-Sharahi ◽  
Nawal Alsadi ◽  
Nafissa Ismail ◽  
Chantal Matar
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

Inflammation is a biological response to the activation of the immune system by various infectious or non-infectious agents, which may lead to tissue damage and various diseases. Gut commensal bacteria maintain a symbiotic relationship with the host and display a critical function in the homeostasis of the host immune system. Disturbance to the gut microbiota leads to immune dysfunction both locally and at distant sites, which causes inflammatory conditions not only in the intestine but also in the other organs such as lungs and brain, and may induce a disease state. Probiotics are well known to reinforce immunity and counteract inflammation by restoring symbiosis within the gut microbiota. As a result, probiotics protect against various diseases, including respiratory infections and neuroinflammatory disorders. A growing body of research supports the beneficial role of probiotics in lung and mental health through modulating the gut-lung and gut-brain axes. In the current paper, we discuss the potential role of probiotics in the treatment of viral respiratory infections, including the COVID-19 disease, as major public health crisis in 2020, and influenza virus infection, as well as treatment of neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and other mental illnesses.

scholarly journals Guidelines for preventing respiratory illness in older adults aged 60 years and above living in long-term care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Rios ◽  
Amruta Radhakrishnan ◽  
Sonia M. Thomas ◽  
Nazia Darvesh ◽  
Sharon E. Straus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe overall objective of this rapid review was to identify infection protection and control recommendations from published clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for adults aged 60 years and older in long-term care settingsMethodsComprehensive searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and relevant CPG publishers/repositories were carried out in early March 2020. Title/abstract and full-text screening, data abstraction, and quality appraisal (AGREE-II) were carried out by single reviewers.ResultsA total of 17 relevant CPGs were identified, published in the USA (n=8), Canada (n=6), Australia (n=2), and the United Kingdom (n=1). All of the CPGs dealt with infection control in long-term care facilities (LTCF) and addressed various types of viral respiratory infections (e.g., influenza, COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome). Ten or more CPGs recommended the following infection control measures in LTCF: hand hygiene (n=13), wearing personal protective equipment (n=13), social distancing or isolation (n=13), disinfecting surfaces (n=12), droplet precautions (n=12), surveillance and evaluation (n=11), and using diagnostic testing to confirm illness (n=10). While only two or more CPGs recommended these infection control measures: policies and procedures for visitors, staff and/or residents (n=9), respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette (n=9), providing supplies (n=9), staff and/or residents education (n=8), increasing communication (n=6), consulting or notifying health professionals (n=6), appropriate ventilation practices (n=2), and cohorting equipment (n=2). Ten CPGs also addressed management of viral respiratory infections in LTCF and recommended antiviral chemoprophylaxis (n=10) and one CPG recommended early mobilization of residents.ConclusionThe recommendations from current guidelines overall seem to support environmental measures for infection prevention and antiviral chemoprophylaxis for infection management as the most appropriate first-line response to viral respiratory illness in long-term care.

scholarly journals Clinical efficacy of the immunomodulatory agent cycloferon (tablets) in viral respiratory infections: Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
N K Mazina ◽  
I V Sheshunov ◽  
P V Mazin ◽  
V P Mazin ◽  
A L Kovalenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mild Form ◽  
Heterogeneity Test ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Viral Respiratory Infections ◽  
Viral Respiratory

The authors carried out a systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of the immunomodulator agent cycloferon as tablets in adults and children with viral respiratory diseases. A total estimate of its clinical efficacy was obtained in terms of compared heterogeneous groups and response variables. The data published in 16 articles were used to calculate the formal parameters of the clinical efficacy of cycloferon (increased absolute and relative benefits, odds ratio (OR); the number of patients needed to be additionally treated with cycloferon to achieve a favorable outcome or to prevent a poor outcome in one patient, etc.). High heterogeneity hampered the unequivocal interpretation of results; however, combining the compared homogeneous groups in the meta-analysis (with adjustments for fixed and random effects) increased the statistical power of the investigation. In children aged 6 to 18 years, the OR for the positive effect of the drug (no new cases after its preventive administration) was 5.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.8—5.9), heterogeneity test, χ= 249.5; p=0.000...; I= 94.8% (95% CI, 92.7—96.3%). This suggested the heterogeneity of clinical trial data and extrapolated this estimate to medical practice. The use of cycloferon in adults to treat acute respiratory viral infection enhanced their chances of enduring the disease in a mild form and avoiding serious complications: the OR for positive outcomes was 9.7 (95% CI, 7.0—13.0), while the effect was more homogeneous than in children (heterogeneity test, χ= 7.4; p=0.061...; I= 59.4% (95% CI, 0—86.5). Thus, the use of cycloferon to treat and prevent acute viral respiratory infections showed a more than 5-fold increase in the probability of avoiding the disease or enduring the latter in a mild form.

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