title: Oral supplementation with a nutraceutical containing Echinacea, methionine and antioxidant/immunostimulating compounds in patients with cutaneous viral warts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of thos paper was to determine the effect of oral supplementation (OS) with a nutraceutical, containing methionine, Echinacea, zinc, probiotics and other antioxidant and immunostimulating compounds, on the response of cutaneous warts to conventional standard therapy (CST).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open-label study in adults and adolescents aged 14 years or more and with a body weight ≥40 kg, who had at least one cutaneous viral wart. Eligible patients were consecutively allocated to CST (topical therapy with a preparation containing salicylic acid and lactic acid or liquid nitrogen cryotherapy) alone or CST combined with nutraceutical OS for 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 172 patients were enrolled: 83 received CST alone and 89 CST+OS. During the 6-month observation period, a statistically significant reduction of the mean number of warts was obtained in each treatment group and subgroup. The addition of nutraceutical OS was associated with a significantly lower number of warts at 6 months as compared to CST alone. Complete remission was obtained in 54.5% and 86% of patients in the CST group and CST+OS arm, respectively (P<0.001). The influence of the nutraceutical on the response rate appeared to be more prominent in the subgroup of patients treated with topical therapy. The development of new warts during the study period occurred significantly less frequently with CST+OS compared to CST (9% versus 25%; P=0.004). No adverse events possibly related to the nutraceutical administration were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our pilot experience seems to suggest that nutraceutical OS is safe and beneficial in patients with cutaneous warts, and capable of enhancing the response to CST.
authors.affiliation: Second Dermatology Clinic, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. g.vena@dermatologia.uniba.it
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettinato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pellè
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Brocco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ligori
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbonara
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vena
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020900:Echinacea; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008715:Methionine; D015032:Zinc; D020156:Salicylic Acid