@misc{10481/66126,
year = {2020},
month = {11},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/66126},
abstract = {Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to respiratory tract infections, so natural strategies
to ameliorate the duration and severity of these infections are of great interest in this population.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the e cacy of the consumption of a combination of elderberry
and reishi extracts on the incidence, severity, and duration of respiratory tract infections in a group
of healthy elderly volunteers. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was
performed during the winter season. A group of 60 nursing home residents  65 years of age was
randomly assigned to receive a combination of 1.5 g of elderberry +0.5 g of reishi or a placebo daily
for 14 weeks. Data about the health conditions of the volunteers were evaluated and recorded by a
medical doctor every 2 weeks. The incidence of respiratory infections was similar in both groups.
However, volunteers in the extract group presented a significantly lower duration of common cold
events (2.5 vs. 4.8 days, p = 0.033).and a significantly lower probability of having a high severity
influenza-like illness event (p = 0.039). Moreover, the incidence of sleep disturbances was significantly
lower in the extract group (p = 0.049). Therefore, the administration of a combination of elderberry
and reishi extracts to the elderly population during the winter season might be used as a natural
strategy to reduce the duration and severity of respiratory tract infections.},
publisher = {Mdpi},
keywords = {Elderberry},
keywords = {Reishi},
keywords = {Respiratory tract infections},
keywords = {Common cold},
keywords = {Influenza-like illness},
keywords = {Respiratory infection symptoms},
keywords = {Randomized control trial},
title = {Effects of a Combination of Elderberry and Reishi Extracts on the Duration and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial},
doi = {10.3390/app10228259},
author = {Gracián Alcaide, Carlos and Maldonado Lobón, José Antonio and Ortiz Tikkakoski, Elisabeth and Gómez Vílchez, Alejandro and Fonolla Joya, Juristo and López Larramendi, José Luis and Olivares, Mónica and Blanco Rojo, Ruth},
}