Immunomodulatory effect of pleuran (β-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus) in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections

Jesenak M, Majtan J, Rennerova Z, Kyselovic J, Banovcin P, Hrubisko M

Published in Int Immunopharmacol, Vol. 15 (2), pp. 395-9

Methodology

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised multicentre trial in 175 children (mean age 5.7 years) with more than five respiratory infections in the previous 12 months. The active group took a pleuran-plus-vitamin C syrup (Imunoglukan P4H); the placebo group took vitamin C alone. Infections and immune markers were followed over 12 months.

Key Findings

36% of children on pleuran had no respiratory infection during the study versus 21% on vitamin C alone (P<0.05). Flu and flu-like illness and lower respiratory tract infections were also less frequent, and humoral and cellular immune markers changed.

Conclusions

The authors concluded that the pleuran-vitamin C product prevents recurrent respiratory infections in children and has broad immunomodulatory effects.

Limitations

Single research group and a branded product. The abstract does not give the dose, the treatment length or absolute infection counts. The control contained vitamin C, so the result reflects pleuran's added effect.