Effects of a Yeast Fermentate (EpiCor) Supplement on Cold or Flu Symptoms in Healthy Children

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study aims to determine the difference between 84 days of once daily oral EpiCor supplementation compared to placebo on the incidence of cold or flu symptoms among children aged 4-12 years who are attending school or daycare. Healthy children, with parental consent, are included in the study. The study includes one screening visit (day -45 to -15), a run-in period (day -14 to -1), and 3 clinical visits: day 0 (baseline), day 42, and day 84 (end of study). During the screening visit, the investigator reviews medical history, concomitant therapies, current health status, assesses inclusion and exclusion criteria, vital signs, weight and height measurements, assesses pre-emergent adverse events, and dispenses saliva collection kit for salivary Immunoglobulin A (IgA) analysis as well as study dairy and Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS) questionnaire. Participants complete the CARIFS questionnaire and study dairy during the run-in period. On day 0, participants return to the clinic with their saliva collecting kit, completed study diaries, and CARIFS questionnaire for baseline assessments; during this visit, eligible participants are randomized and they are also instructed to initiate investigational product administration on the morning of day 1. At day 42, participants and their caregivers return to the clinic for assessments with unused investigation product, saliva collection kit, completed study diaries, CARIFS questionnaire, and a Questionnaire for measuring health-related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents (KINDL); investigator reviews concomitant therapies and adverse events, dispenses new study diary, CARIFS questionnaire, saliva collection kit, investigational product, and measures vital signs, weight, and height. The same procedure is repeated during the last clinical visit at day 84 (end of study), except that no investigational product is provided. Daily throughout the study, participant caregivers complete the study diary to track missed school or daycare days, well days, use of prescription/non-prescription cold/flu medication, adverse events, and concomitant therapies, and cold or flu symptoms (via CARIFS questionnaire when cold or flu symptoms are present).

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females between the age of 4-12 years of age, inclusive
• Individuals of child-bearing potential must have a negative baseline urine pregnancy test
• Enrolled in and attending school or daycare at baseline
• Healthy as determined by medical history and review of health status as per Qualified Investigator
• Agrees to maintain current lifestyle habits as much as possible throughout the study depending on their ability to maintain the following: diet, medications, supplements, exercise, and sleep and avoid taking new supplements
• Willing to complete evaluations, measurements, questionnaires, diaries, and tests associated with each clinic visit and be compliant to study product intake throughout the study
• A care provider who can reliably bring the participant to all study visits; the participant's primary caregiver must be willing and able to complete the questionnaires
• The child and the child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have given voluntary, written, informed consent to partake in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who are pregnant
• Allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance to the investigational product's active or inactive ingredients
• History or presence of a clinically relevant cardiac, renal, hepatic, endocrine (including diabetes mellitus), pulmonary, biliary, gastrointestinal condition which affects absorption, or pancreatic disorders, as assessed by the Qualified Investigator
• Immune dysfunction and/or taking an immunosuppressive medication
• Severe environmental allergies requiring medication or need for allergy shots
• Cancer. Volunteers with cancer in full remission for more than five years after diagnosis are acceptable
• Asthma, as assessed by the Qualified Investigator
• Participants with siblings that live in the same household and are eligible for the study unless they are enrolled consecutively (e.g., not enrolled at the same time)
• Participation in a clinical research trial within 30 days prior to randomization, as assessed by the Qualified Investigator
• Participant or participant's caregiver who are cognitively or neurodevelopmentally impaired and/or are unable to give informed consent
• Any other condition that may adversely affect the ability to complete the study or its measures or which may pose significant risk to the participant as assessed by the Qualified Investigator