Author/Authors :
Hassanzad, Maryam Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center (PRDRC) - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Maleki Mostashari, Keyvan Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center (PRDRC) - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Ghaffaripour, Hosseinali Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center (PRDRC) - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Emami, Habib Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center (PRDRC) - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Rahimi Limouei, Samane Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Velayati, Ali Akbar National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD) - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background: We examined the efficiency and safety of a specific synbiotic compound, brand
name Kidilact®, in the treatment of asthma in children 12 years of age or younger. Materials
and Methods: This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in Tehran, Iran, from May 22, 2016, to May 21, 2017. One hundred children, 12 years of
age or younger, who suffered from mild to moderate asthma were recruited in this study. The
subjects were randomly divided into two groups; the experimental group received a sachet of
Kidilact®, and the control group received a sachet of placebo once a day for six months. Both
groups were compared in terms of the frequency of asthma attacks that were severe enough to
require administration of fast-acting medications, the number of outpatient visits for asthma-related problems, and the frequency of hospitalization due to exacerbated symptoms of asthma.
Results: There were fewer complaints of drug-induced side effects, e.g., vomiting, headache,
stomachache, and diarrhea, exacerbated cough, and constipation in the experimental group than
in the control group. Overall, a significantly greater number of participants in the experimental
group were satisfied with the therapeutic intervention than those in the control group, as verified
by the participants and their parents/guardians self-report. There was no significant difference
between both groups in the frequency of asthma attacks and hospitalization due to exacerbated
symptoms of asthma. The only significant difference between both groups was the count of
outpatient visits. While the control group made 55 outpatient visits to the hospital, participants
in the experimental group visited the hospital only 19 times (P=0.001). Conclusion: Results
of our study indicates that synbiotic compound Kidilact® generally alleviates the symptoms of
asthma in children of 12 years of age or younger, resulting in less frequent outpatient visits to
the hospital due to asthma-related problems while rarely causing any side effects. Due to ease
of use, the rarity of side effects, and their indirect positive effects on quality of life of asthmatic
patients, we recommend that synbiotics be incorporated in regular treatment and management
of children with asthma.
Keywords :
Asthma , Synbiotics , Probiotics , Iran , Kidilact
