Common cold and flu Infections and Infestations Common cold and flu
Conditions
Interventions
Sponsors
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 60 to 80 years old 2. Having a normal clinical chemistry profile (tested at baseline) 3. Physician clearance 4. Willingness to be randomised to the treatment or placebo groups and adhere to all aspects of the study protocol
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Acute or serious chronic diseases 2. Currently taking prescription medication or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 3. Use of vitamin or mineral supplements within the past three months 4. A history of alcohol or drug abuse 5. Marked sleep disturbances, serious allergies or salient emotional or mood problems 6. A history of systemic infection, bone fracture or surgery
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The main outcome measures in this study were self-reports of the frequency, duration, and severity of cold and flu symptoms as compared with the pre-treatment assessment of the same variables. At the beginning of the study, all participants were queried about their cold and flu histories from the previous winter season (mid-November to end of March). Cold and flu symptoms included: headache associated with fever; nasal discharge; sore throat; sneezing; and chills or fever. To help subjects determine the frequency of colds or flu, the following criteria were established: 1. Family physician?s diagnosis of condition 2. Simultaneous experiencing of two or more symptoms within a week 3. Experiencing three or more symptoms without seeing a doctor. The questions were: 1. How many times did you contract a cold or flu within the specified period? 2. When you had a cold or flu, how many days did it usually take before the symptoms were alleviated? 3. When you had a cold or flu, on a scale of one to five, how severe were the cold and flu symptoms? (1) barely noticeable, (2) mild, (3) moderate, (4) severe, (5) very severe At the end of the study, the participants answered the same questions regarding the current winter season (mid-November to end of March). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The subjects were asked whether they experienced any adverse effects/reactions. | — |
Countries
China