Probiotic pickled turnip touted as ‘flu wonder cure’

Conclusion This simple experiment showed that giving a bacterial extract found in Japanese pickled turnip to mice, as a preventative treatment for flu, reduced some of the symptomatic effects of flu upon subsequent infection. Specifically, it lessened body weight loss and reduced declines in general health during a seven-day flu period. While the results are encouraging, it is too soon to roll out the red carpet and welcome a “new wonder cure” as both the headlines in the Daily Express and Mail Online suggest. For instance, mice given the Japanese pickle extract still experienced declines in body weight of approximately 20% by day seven and significant decreases in general health, so they certainly weren’t cured of flu completely. However, the symptoms were significantly milder than mice that didn’t receive the extract. Any new treatment that could potentially help those at higher health risk from severe flu infection, such as the very young, very old, or others with a weakened immune system, would be an important breakthrough. Currently available antiviral medications can only shorten the duration of a flu infection by around a day. However, it is far too early to say that this bacterial extract is the breakthrough the world is waiting for. This was a study in mice, so many further experiments confirming the findings are needed. Following these, and assuming they are successful, further experiments will be needed on humans and again if effective clinical trials cou...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Medical practice Medication Swine flu Source Type: news