Beta-(1,3/1,6)-D-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections: An International, Multicentre, Open-Label, Prospective Study

Authors:
Zuzana Rennerova, Leandro Picó Sirvent, Eva Carvajal Roca, Jarosław Paśnik, Mateja Logar, Katarina Milošević, Juraj Majtan, Milos Jesenak

Journal:
Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2022
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.999701

Study Design

International, multicenter, open-label, prospective study with a 3-month supplementation period followed by a 3-month follow-up.

Participants

1,030 children aged 1–12 years with a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs), from 7 European countries. 994 children completed the study per protocol.

Intervention

Daily use of Imunoglukan P4H® liquid for 3 months, delivering 10 mg of pleuran (β-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus) and 10 mg of vitamin C per 1 mL. The dose was 1 mL per 5 kg of body weight. Children were monitored for 3 months after supplementation.

Outcome Measures

• Frequency and duration of total and subtype RTIs (common cold, otitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.)
• Comparison with previous year’s infection data
• Safety, tolerability, and product acceptance
• Parent and pediatrician assessments of health changes

Summary

This large-scale, multinational trial evaluated pleuran supplementation for preventing recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Over the 6-month study period, there was a 45.3% reduction in total infections compared to the same months of the previous year. Significant reductions were seen in all RTI subtypes, with improvements in both younger and older age groups. The average duration of infections was also significantly shorter. The supplement was well tolerated, with minimal adverse events and high parental acceptance. These findings support the use of pleuran as a safe and effective tool for reducing respiratory infections in children prone to RRTIs.