Yamada Hiroshi, Takuma Norikata, Daimon Takashi, Hara Yukihiko
Division of Drug Evaluation & Informatics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan.
J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Sep;12(7):669-72. doi: 10.1089/acm.2006.12.669.
To evaluate the effects of gargling tea catechin extracts on the prevention of influenza infection in elderly nursing home residents.
A prospective study conducted for 3 months from January to March 2005.
SETTINGS/LOCATION: A nursing home in Japan.
A total of 124 elderly residents of at least 65 years of age were enrolled in the study. Seventy-six residents (83 +/-8.2 years, mean +/-standard deviation; 24 men, 52 women) gargled with tea catechin extract (catechin group) and were compared with 48 age- and sex-matched residents who gargled without tea catechin extracts (control group). All the residents were vaccinated with an influenza vaccine until early December 2004.
catechin group: gargling with the tea catechin extract solution (200 microg/mL catechins, 60% of catechins comprise epigallocatechin gallate); control group: gargling without the catechin extract solution. In both groups, gargling was performed three times daily for 3 months.
The incidence of influenza infection during the study was compared between the two groups. A safety evaluation was conducted to observe adverse events during the study.
The incidence of influenza infection was significantly lower in the catechin group (1.3%, one resident) than in the control group (10%, five residents) calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis (p = 0.028; odds ratio, 15.711; 95% confidence interval, 1.883-399.658). No adverse events, such as respiratory tract irritation, an obstruction, or allergic bronchial spasm, were observed during the study.
This prospective study demonstrating the effect of catechin gargling on the prevention of influenza infection in the elderly is the first to be reported in the literature. Further randomized, controlled studies are needed to confirm the effects of catechin gargling on the prevention of influenza infection.
评估含漱茶儿茶素提取物对老年疗养院居民预防流感感染的效果。
2005年1月至3月进行的一项为期3个月的前瞻性研究。
地点/场所：日本的一家疗养院。
共有124名年龄至少65岁的老年居民参与本研究。76名居民（83±8.2岁，均值±标准差；男性24名，女性52名）用茶儿茶素提取物含漱（儿茶素组），并与48名年龄和性别匹配、不用茶儿茶素提取物含漱的居民（对照组）进行比较。所有居民均在2004年12月初之前接种了流感疫苗。
儿茶素组：用茶儿茶素提取液含漱（儿茶素200微克/毫升，其中60%的儿茶素为表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯）；对照组：不用儿茶素提取液含漱。两组均每天含漱3次，持续3个月。
比较两组研究期间流感感染的发生率。进行安全性评估以观察研究期间的不良事件。
通过多因素逻辑回归分析计算，儿茶素组流感感染发生率（1.3%，1名居民）显著低于对照组（10%，5名居民）（p = 0.028；比值比，15.711；95%置信区间，1.883 - 399.658）。研究期间未观察到呼吸道刺激、梗阻或过敏性支气管痉挛等不良事件。
这项证明儿茶素含漱对老年人预防流感感染有效果的前瞻性研究是文献中首次报道。需要进一步进行随机对照研究以证实儿茶素含漱对预防流感感染的效果。
