Combo of flu shot and COLD-FX cuts cold and flu by a third

A new study has shown the benefit of annual flu vaccinations for seniors along with Canada's top cold and flu-fighting product COLD-FX.

Canadian researchers say COLD-FX cut colds and flu by one-third in vaccinated seniors.

The three-year multi-centre study confirmed the results of previous clinical trials reviewed by Health Canada, the federal government's regulatory body, which showed that COLD-FX gave added protection on top of the flu shot's benefit.

The study offers new evidence that the cold and flu-fighting product provides significant help as trial participants who took COLD-FX were one-third less likely to get a cold or flu.

The very sensitive Jackson scoring method for colds and flu was used which is a credible and accepted scientific method of judging clinical symptoms, which include coughing, sneezing, runny noses and others.

COLD-FX is a unique extract of North American ginseng.

The study showed that for trial participants who regularly suffer two colds a year, COLD-FX reduced their chance of getting a second one by 56% and Health Canada subsequently approved the strong claims for the product made last year.

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

The participants were given either the standard dose of two capsules a day, or double the standard dose, or a placebo.

The double-blind, placebo controlled trial was led by Dr. Gerald Predy, Medical Officer of Health for Alberta Health Services, along with leading Canadian researchers - neither the participants nor the investigators knew who was receiving what in the trial.

The viral analysis was conducted in the lab of an internationally recognized influenza expert, Dr. Albert Osterhaus who is based in the Netherlands.

Dr. Osterhaus, a leading virologist, and his team identified the first human infection with avian flu H5N1 in 1997 and the SARS virus in Hong Kong in 2003.

The scientists found that in comparison to the placebo, both COLD-FX regimes produced similar and statistically significant reductions in the number of upper respiratory infections per individual – 36% for the lower dose and 33% for the higher dose.

The trial confirmed that both COLD-FX dosage levels were safe and well tolerated and both COLD-FX groups showed fewer negative cardiovascular events, possibly by reducing upper respiratory infections, which often go together with cardiovascular problems in seniors.

The researchers say other than COLD-FX, there is no known clinically proven therapy for both prevention and treatment, which naturally enhances the immune system to fight viral respiratory infections.

The research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.