Effects of Lactoferrin on Oral and Throat Conditions under Low Humidity Environments: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

To evaluate the effects of a single ingestion of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on oral and throat conditions under a low-humidity environment. A randomized, double-blind, 2-sequence, 2-treatment, and 2-period placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted. Healthy adult subjects orally ingested bLF dissolved in water, or placebo water, followed by exposure to low humidity (20 °C, 20% relative humidity (RH)) for 2 h. The primary endpoint was subjective oral and throat discomfort assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS), which positively correlated with the discomfort. Secondary endpoints were unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UWSFR) and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretion rate. Overall, 40 subjects were randomly assigned to two sequences (20 each) and 34 were analyzed. The VAS values for oral and throat discomfort in the bLF treatment were significantly lower than in the placebo treatment, whereas UWSFR and IgA secretion rates were comparable between the two treatments. Adverse drug reactions were not observed. Subjective oral and throat discomfort associated with low humidity is suppressed by a single ingestion of bLF. Our findings demonstrate the novel use of bLF in a clinical situation that leverages its unique characteristics.

[The characteristics of frail elderly patients in acute care hospitals]

AIM

Efforts to improve the treatment of frail elderly patients in acute care hospitals are urgently needed because a low physical activity level due to hospitalization is reported to be associated with a risk of disability. The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of frail elderly patients in acute care hospitals.

METHODS

We assessed 198 elderly patients who were admitted to acute care hospitals. The factors that were evaluated included the presence of frailty, the age, gender, and nutritional status of the patients, and complications that developed during hospitalization. In this study, frailty was evaluated using the Kihon checklist (KCL), and was defined by a total KCL score of ≥7 points.

RESULTS

A total of 87 (43.9%) subjects met the definition of frailty and there was a female predominance (63.2%). The nutritional status of the subjects with frailty was significantly worse than that of the non-frail patients. In comparison to the non-frail subjects, the frail subjects were significantly older and the onset of complications during hospitalization was observed significantly more frequently. Moreover, a large number of frail subjects showed low scores on the KCL items related to their social activity, physical and oral functions, and psychological status.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that efforts to improve the treatment of frail elderly patients in acute care hospitals are important because of the high incidence of frailty. Multifaceted assessments and the promotion of physical activity to prevent the onset of complications during hospitalization may be needed for frail elderly patients in acute care hospitals.