Colds and flu cut by Canadian cold fighter

EDMONTON, Alberta, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A double-blind, placebo controlled trial in Canada of a ginseng product reduced the likelihood of contracting a cold or flu by about one-third, researchers say.

The trial involved 780 healthy seniors in four major Canadian cities who took a flu shot just prior to their six-month treatment phase as part of the study.

The three-year study involved COLD-Fx, a cold and flu fighting product, a unique extract of North American ginseng discovered by 25 Canadian scientists. Participants were given either the standard dose of two capsules a day or double the standard dose or a placebo.

Trial leader Dr. Gerald Predy, medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services, in collaboration with other Canadian researchers found that compared to the placebo, both COLD-Fx regimes produced similar and statistically significant reductions in the number of upper respiratory infections per individual -- 36 percent for the lower dose and 33 percent for the higher dose.

The trial did confirm that both COLD-Fx dosage levels were safe and well tolerated. Adverse events in the COLD-Fx groups showed up at about the same rates as for the placebo group, the researchers said.