Research paper

Dietary Supplementation with Biobran/MGN-3 Increases Innate Resistance and Reduces the Incidence of Influenza-like Illnesses in Elderly Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Clinical Trial

Nutrients

Nov 2021

DOI: 10.3390/nu13114133

Citations: 16

Influential: 1

Interventional (Human) Studies

Study answer

What this study found

Biobran/MGN-3 supplementation significantly reduced the incidence rate of ILI from 22.5% in the placebo group to 5% in the Biobran group. Additionally, it enhanced NK cell activity and upregulated the expression of RIG-1, MDA5, ISG15, and MX1.

Study & population: The trial utilized a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, assessing the incidence of ILI infections, NK cell activity, and specific gene expressions related to immune response in older adults.
Intervention: Eighty healthy older adults (≥56 years) were randomly assigned to receive either Biobran/MGN-3 (500 mg/day) or a placebo for three months during the influenza-like illness (ILI) season in Egypt.
Key limitation: The study's relatively small sample size and the specific focus on certain gene expressions in vitro limit the generalizability of the findings.

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Original abstract

Influenza-like illness (ILI) remains a major cause of severe mortality and morbidity in the elderly. Aging is associated with a decreased ability to sense pathogens and mount effective innate and adaptive immune responses, thus mandating the developm…