Abstract

Background: Since no treatment exists for children suffering from upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) without immunological disorders, we searched for a possible tool to improve the health of these children. Aim: We evaluated whether dietary advice (based on food matrix and food synergy), including standard supportive care, can decrease the number and duration of URTIs in children with recurrent URTIs. Design and Setting: This study was a multicenter randomized controlled trial in two pediatric outpatient clinics in the Netherlands, with 118 children aged one to four years with recurrent URTIs. The dietary advice group received dietary advice plus standard supportive care, while the control group received standard supportive care alone for six months. The dietary advice consisted of green vegetables five times per week, beef three times per week, 300 mL whole milk per day, and whole dairy butter on bread every day. Portion sizes were age-appropriate. Results and Conclusion: Children in the dietary advice group had 4.8 (1.6–9.5) days per month with symptoms of an URTI in the last three months of the study, compared to 7.7 (4.0–12.3) in the control group (p = 0.028). The total number of URTIs during the six-month study period was 5.7 (±0.55) versus 6.8 (±0.49), respectively (p = 0.068). The use of antibiotics was significantly reduced in the dietary advice group, as well as visits to a general practitioner, thereby possibly reducing healthcare costs. The results show a reduced number of days with symptoms of a URTI following dietary advice. The number of infections was not significantly reduced.

Highlights

  • Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are the most frequently diagnosed diseases in children, especially those aged one to six years

  • The use of antibiotics was significantly reduced in the dietary advice group, as well as visits to a general practitioner, thereby possibly reducing healthcare costs

  • In 2009, we investigated the dietary patterns of children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) compared to control children

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Summary

Introduction

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are the most frequently diagnosed diseases in children, especially those aged one to six years. Long-lasting, or clinically severe infections, the clinician should consider an immunodeficiency [5]. Despite the majority of episodes being self-limiting, URTIs cause frequent and unnecessary prescription of antibiotics and absences from work for parents [6,7]. This antibiotic prescription incurs substantial costs for health care systems, Nutrients 2020, 12, 272; doi:10.3390/nu12010272 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients. Since no treatment exists for children suffering from upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) without immunological disorders, we searched for a possible tool to improve the health of these children.

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