Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Management of Symptomatic Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is one of the most prevalent upper respiratory tract disorders of children, with associated troublesome symptoms such as sleep apnea and cognitive disturbances. In this study, we evaluated the potential role of individualized homeopathic medicines in the management of symptomatic ATH in children. METHODS: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted at five institutes under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India. Primary and secondary outcomes (symptom score for adenoids, other symptoms of ATH, Mallampati score, tonsillar size, Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder of the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire [SRBD-PSQ]) were assessed through standardized questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Radiological investigations for assessing the adenoid/nasopharyngeal (A/N) ratio were carried out at baseline, 6 and 12 months. All analyses were carried out using an intention-to-treat approach. RESULTS: A total of 340 children were screened and 202 children suffering from ATH were enrolled and followed up monthly for 12 months. Each patient received individualized homeopathic treatment based on the totality of symptoms. Statistically significant reductions in adenoid symptom score, Mallampati score (including tonsillar size), SRBD-PSQ sleep quality assessment and A/N ratio were found over time up to 12 months (p < 0.001). Homeopathic medicines frequently indicated were Calcarea carbonicum, Phosphorus, Silicea, Sulphur, Calcarea phosphoricum, Pulsatilla, Lycopodium and Tuberculinum. No serious adverse events were recorded during the study period. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that homeopathic medicines may play a beneficial role in the management of symptomatic ATH in children. Well-designed comparative trials are warranted.

A randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of micellised and fat-soluble vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy adults.

Nanoemulsion formulation of vitamin D3 have been shown to have better bioavailability than the coarse emulsion preparation in vitro and in vivo animal studies. In the absence of randomised trial in humans, comparing the efficacy of nanotechnology-based miscellised vitamin D3 over conventional vitamin D3, we undertook this study. A total of 180 healthy adults were randomised to receive either micellised (DePura, group A) or conventional vitamin D3 (Calcirol, group B) at a monthly dose of 60 000 IU (1500µg) for 6 months. The outcome parameters were serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH), Ca, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and urinary Ca:creatinine ratio. A total of eighty-nine subjects in group A and seventy-seven in group B completed the trial. Subjects in both the groups had a significant increase in their serum 25(OH)D levels following supplementation (group A: 21·5 (sd 10·9) to 76·7 (sd 18·8) nmol/l (P<0·001); group B: 22·8 (sd 10·4) to 57·8 (sd 16·0) nmol/l (P<0·001)). Participants in micellised group had an additional increase of 20·2 (95 % CI 14·0, 26·4) nmol/l in serum 25(OH)D levels (P<0·001). The difference between the groups was 17·5 (95 % CI 11·8, 23·1) nmol/l, which remained statistically significant (P<0·001) even after adjustment for age and sex. Significant decline in mean serum PTH was observed in both the groups. No hypercalcaemia or hypercalciuria was noted. Although supplementation with both the preparations resulted in a significant rise in serum 25(OH)D levels, micellised vitamin D3 appeared to be more efficacious in achieving higher levels of serum 25(OH)D.