Resveratrol plus carboxymethyl-β-glucan in children with recurrent respiratory infections: a preliminary and real-life experience

BACKGROUND: Recurrent respiratory infections (RRI), such as the presence of at least one of the following criteria: i) >6 RI per year; ii) >1 RI per month involving upper airways from September to April; iii) >3 RI involving lower airways, constitute a social problem for both their pharmaco-economic impact and the burden for the family. However, several treatment have been proposed with controversial results. OBJECTIVE: As resveratrol plus carboxymethyl-β-glucan is presently available as solution for aerosol, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this compound, compared to saline solution, whether it is able to prevent RRI in children. DESIGN: The study was designed as real-life, randomized. Globally, 82 children (49 males, mean age 8.1 ± 2.6 years) with acute rhinopharyngitis and RRI were enrolled. Resveratrol plus carboxymethyl-β-glucan or saline isotonic solution was randomly (ratio 1:1) administered immediately after an anti-infective and anti-inflammatory 10-day treatment (tiamphenicol associated with acetylcisteine plus beclomethasone dipropionate) for the acute rhinopharyngitis. Investigated treatments lasted 20 days. Days with respiratory symptoms, fever, medication use, medical visits, and school absences were evaluated. Children were visited 30, 60, and 90 days after starting treatments. RESULTS: The active compound was able to significantly reduce the number of days with nasal obstruction (p < 0.001), rhinorrhea (p < 0.001), sneezing (p < 0.001), cough (p = 0.002), fever (p < 0.001), medication use (p < 0.001), medical visits (p < 0.001), and school absence (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary and real-life study could suggest that an aerosolized solution containing resveratrol plus carboxymethyl-β-glucan might exert preventive effects in children with RRI.