title: Randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid in topical treatment of eczema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbohydratederived fulvic acid (CHD-FA) in the treatment of eczema in patients two years and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative study, 36 volunteers with predetermined eczema were randomly assigned to receive either the study drug or placebo twice daily for four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All safety parameters remained within normal limits, with no significant differences in either group. Significant differences were observed for both severity and erythema in the placebo and CHD-FA treated groups, and a significant difference was observed for scaling in the placebo-treated group. With regard to the investigator assessment of global response to treatment, a significant improvement was observed in the CHD-FA group when compared with the placebo group. A statistically significant decrease in visual analog scale score was observed in both groups, when comparing the baseline with the final results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHD-FA was well tolerated, with no difference in reported side effects other than a short-lived burning sensation on application. CHD-FA significantly improved some aspects of eczema. Investigator assessment of global response to treatment with CHD-FA was significantly better than that with emollient therapy alone. The results of this small exploratory study suggest that CHD-FA warrants further investigation in the treatment of eczema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Justin J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gandy
authors.forename: Jacques R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Snyman
authors.forename: Constance Ej
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: van Rensburg