School of Pharmacy, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:417267. doi: 10.1155/2012/417267. Epub 2011 Dec 20.
Objective. To identify whether a standardised Echinacea formulation is effective in the prevention of respiratory and other symptoms associated with long-haul flights. Methods. 175 adults participated in a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial travelling back from Australia to America, Europe, or Africa for a period of 1-5 weeks on commercial flights via economy class. Participants took Echinacea (root extract, standardised to 4.4 mg alkylamides) or placebo tablets. Participants were surveyed before, immediately after travel, and at 4 weeks after travel regarding upper respiratory symptoms and travel-related quality of life. Results. Respiratory symptoms for both groups increased significantly during travel (P < 0.0005). However, the Echinacea group had borderline significantly lower respiratory symptom scores compared to placebo (P = 0.05) during travel. Conclusions. Supplementation with standardised Echinacea tablets, if taken before and during travel, may have preventive effects against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights.
目的。确定标准化紫锥菊配方是否能有效预防长途飞行引起的呼吸道和其他症状。
方法。175 名成年人参与了一项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照试验，他们乘坐经济舱从澳大利亚、美国、欧洲或非洲返回，飞行时间为 1-5 周。参与者服用紫锥菊（根提取物，标准化为 4.4mg 烷基酰胺）或安慰剂片。在旅行前、旅行后立即以及旅行后 4 周，参与者接受了关于上呼吸道症状和与旅行相关的生活质量的调查。
结果。两组的呼吸道症状在旅行期间均显著增加（P<0.0005）。然而，在旅行期间，紫锥菊组的呼吸道症状评分较安慰剂组有边缘显著降低（P=0.05）。
结论。在旅行前和旅行期间服用标准化紫锥菊片剂补充剂可能对预防长途飞行旅行中呼吸道症状的发展具有预防作用。
