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Effects of Echinacea in Children

Primary Purpose

Upper Respiratory Infections

Status
Withdrawn
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Echinacea purpurea 100 mg/ml in liquid formulation
placebo
Sponsored by
University of Washington
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional basic science trial for Upper Respiratory Infections focused on measuring Upper respiratory tract infections, Children, Echinacea, Prevention, Immune modulation

Eligibility Criteria

6 Years - 11 Years (Child)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy children 6-11 years old
  • Parent/Caregiver who can read and speak English
  • One child per family

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of allergic reaction to Echinacea or related species
  • History of asthma
  • History of allergic rhinitis
  • History of autoimmune disease

Sites / Locations

    Arms of the Study

    Arm 1

    Arm 2

    Arm Type

    Active Comparator

    Placebo Comparator

    Arm Label

    1. Echinacea purpurea

    2. placebo

    Arm Description

    Outcomes

    Primary Outcome Measures

    TNF levels

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    CD25/CD69 activation
    IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, interferon alpha, interferon gamma, TNF levels
    specific and general adverse events

    Full Information

    First Posted
    October 14, 2008
    Last Updated
    November 30, 2015
    Sponsor
    University of Washington
    Collaborators
    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
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    1. Study Identification

    Unique Protocol Identification Number
    NCT00773435
    Brief Title
    Effects of Echinacea in Children
    Official Title
    Assessing the in Vivo Effect of Echinacea Purpurea on Markers of Immune Activities in Children
    Study Type
    Interventional

    2. Study Status

    Record Verification Date
    December 2008
    Overall Recruitment Status
    Withdrawn
    Why Stopped
    Decided to conduct study in adults first
    Study Start Date
    November 2008 (undefined)
    Primary Completion Date
    May 2009 (Anticipated)
    Study Completion Date
    August 2009 (Anticipated)

    3. Sponsor/Collaborators

    Responsible Party, by Official Title
    Principal Investigator
    Name of the Sponsor
    University of Washington
    Collaborators
    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

    4. Oversight

    Data Monitoring Committee
    Yes

    5. Study Description

    Brief Summary
    The goal of the this study is to determine if Echinacea purpurea stimulates the immune system in children. For the study, 40 healthy children, 6-11 years old will be randomized to receive Echinacea purpurea or placebo for 10 days in 3 consecutive months. Blood samples will be obtained in the children just before starting study medication, during the first course of medication and either just prior to starting the second course of medication or 50 days following the last of the three courses of medication. Markers of immune activity in children receiving Echinacea or placebo will be compared.
    Detailed Description
    This is an application to study the biologic activity of a specific formulation of Echinacea purpurea in children 6-11 years old. The goal of the study is to determine if Echinacea purpurea is associated with activation of immune markers including cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interferon alpha, interferon gamma, and interleukins 2, 6, and 12 (IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12), as well CD25 and CD69 activation. A total of 40 study children will be randomized to receive either the Echinacea purpurea formulation or placebo for 10 consecutive days at the start of 3 consecutive 30-day periods. Blood samples will be obtained at baseline, at the time of "peak" TNF activity, and either 30 or 120 days after beginning the study medication. Prior to beginning this pediatric study "peak" TNF activity will be determined by administering the Echinacea purpurea to 3 adult volunteers for 10 days and doing frequent blood sampling during this period. If it is demonstrated that this formulation of E purpurea has biologic activity, a large randomized controlled trial is planned to determine if E purpurea can prevent upper respiratory tract infection (URI) in children 2-11 years old.

    6. Conditions and Keywords

    Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
    Upper Respiratory Infections
    Keywords
    Upper respiratory tract infections, Children, Echinacea, Prevention, Immune modulation

    7. Study Design

    Primary Purpose
    Basic Science
    Study Phase
    Not Applicable
    Interventional Study Model
    Parallel Assignment
    Masking
    ParticipantCare ProviderInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
    Allocation
    Randomized
    Enrollment
    0 (Actual)

    8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

    Arm Title
    1. Echinacea purpurea
    Arm Type
    Active Comparator
    Arm Title
    2. placebo
    Arm Type
    Placebo Comparator
    Intervention Type
    Biological
    Intervention Name(s)
    Echinacea purpurea 100 mg/ml in liquid formulation
    Intervention Description
    10 ml BID for 10 consecutive days at the start of 3 consecutive 30 day periods
    Intervention Type
    Other
    Intervention Name(s)
    placebo
    Intervention Description
    10 ml PO BID for 10 consecutive days at the beginning of 3 consecutive 30 day periods
    Primary Outcome Measure Information:
    Title
    TNF levels
    Time Frame
    During first course of study medication
    Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
    Title
    CD25/CD69 activation
    Time Frame
    120 days
    Title
    IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, interferon alpha, interferon gamma, TNF levels
    Time Frame
    120 days
    Title
    specific and general adverse events
    Time Frame
    120 days

    10. Eligibility

    Sex
    All
    Minimum Age & Unit of Time
    6 Years
    Maximum Age & Unit of Time
    11 Years
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers
    Eligibility Criteria
    Inclusion Criteria: Healthy children 6-11 years old Parent/Caregiver who can read and speak English One child per family Exclusion Criteria: History of allergic reaction to Echinacea or related species History of asthma History of allergic rhinitis History of autoimmune disease
    Overall Study Officials:
    First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
    James A Taylor
    Organizational Affiliation
    University of Washington
    Official's Role
    Principal Investigator

    12. IPD Sharing Statement

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    Effects of Echinacea in Children

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