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MEDICAL UPDATES
VOL. 1 Series No.
MU007-2013
A RANDOMIZED
–DOUBLE BLIND CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL ON THE
EFFICACY OF SPIRULINA AS AN ADJUNCT THERAPY IN
THE MANAGEMENT OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (2 MONTHS -
5 YEARS OLD) WITH SEVERE PNEUMONIA ADMITTED AT
WESTERN VISAYAS MEDICAL CENTER
Chlovelle S. Cadete, MD., Ma.Cristina VC–Woo,
MD. Western Visayas Medical Center, Ilo-ilo
City, Philippines (2012)
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To determine the efficacy of Spirulina as
adjunct in the treatment of Severe Pneumonia in
children.
Design:
A Randomized – Double Blind Controlled Clinical
Trial
Settings:
Pediatric units of Western Visayas Medical
Center
Patients/Participants:
Children 2 months – 5 years admitted for Severe
Pneumonia, from February to August 2012. Seventy
eight subjects were randomized: Spirulina Group
(n=39) and Placebo Group (n=39).
Interventions:
Standard treatment for Severe Pneumonia plus
either Spirulina (Cellife) at 60mg/kg or Placebo
every 6 hours were given until discharged.
Main Outcome Measures:
Clinical parameters: cough, fever, fast
breathing, chest indrawing, tachycardia,
crackles; Physiologic parameters: temperature,
respiration, heart rate, oxygen saturation;
Chest x –ray, leukocyte count, clinical outcome
and hospital stay
Results:Demographic
profiles of the two groups were comparable
(p>0.050), with a trend towards improvement
within 3 days among Spirulina group on clinical
parameters and physiologic profile compared to
Placebo. There was a significant drop in
temperature on day 2 (p 0.038) and significant
of mean heart rate among 13 – 36 months subjects
on Day 1 (p 0.036) and Day 2 ( p0.037) those who
were supplemented with Spirulina. There was also
improvement on x-ray (p 0.036) after day 3 of
treatment among Spirulina group. Both groups had
similar hospital stay, clinical and physiologic
parameters on follow up.
Conclusion:
Supplementation of Spirulina shortens the
duration of fever and significantly decreases
the heart rate. It also provides radiologic
improvement for Severe Pneumonia.
Keywords: Severe Pneumonia,
Tachypnea, Chest In drawing, Tachycardia |
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