The Prospect of Lactoferrin Use as Adjunctive Agent in Management of SARS-CoV-2 Patients: A Randomized Pilot Study

• Published in: Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Lithuania), 2021-08, Vol.57 (8), p.842
• Main Authors: Algahtani, Fahad Dhafer, Elabbasy, Mohamed Tharwat, Samak, Mai A., Adeboye, Adeniyi A., Yusuf, Rafeek A., Ghoniem, Mohamed E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adjunctive; Asymptomatic; Consent; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Egyptian COVID-19 management protocol; Hospitals; Illnesses; Infections; Laboratories; lactoferrin; Oxygen saturation; Pathogens; Pneumonia; Proteins; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1648-9144; 1010-660X; 1648-9144
• DOI: 10.3390/medicina57080842

Background and Objectives: Preventive, adjunctive and curative properties of lactoferrin have been evaluated since the first wave of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a viral respiratory disease, emerged 18 years ago. Despite the discovery of new vaccine candidates, there is currently no widely approved treatment for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Strict adherence to infection prevention and control procedures, as well as vaccines, can, however, prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lactoferrin treatment in improving clinical symptoms and laboratory indices among individuals with mild to moderate coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Materials and Method: A randomized, prospective, interventional pilot study conducted between 8 July and 18 September 2020 used a hospital-based sample of 54 laboratory-confirmed participants with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. Randomization into a control and two treatment groups ensured all groups received the approved Egyptian COVID-19 management protocol; only treatment group participants received lactoferrin at different doses for seven days. Clinical symptoms and laboratory indices were assessed on Days 0, 2 and 7 after starting treatments. Mean values with standard deviation and one-way analysis of variance with least significant difference of demographic and laboratory data between control and treatment groups were calculated. Results: Our study showed no statistically significant difference among studied groups regarding recovery of symptoms or laboratory improvement. Conclusions: Further research into therapeutic properties particularly related to dosage, duration and follow-up after treatment with lactoferrin in individuals with COVID-19 is required.