Epogam evening primrose oil treatment in atopic dermatitis and asthma.

Abstract

Essential fatty acids are claimed to have positive effects in atopic diseases. In a double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study 58 out of 60 children, with atopic dermatitis and the need for regular treatment with topical skin steroids, completed a 16 weeks' treatment period with either Epogam evening primrose oil or placebo capsules. Twenty two ofthese subjects also had asthma. The parents used diaries to record symptom scores and concomitant medication. Peak expiratory flow was measured and disease activity was monitored by the clinician every four weeks. The plasma concentrations of essential fatty acids increased significantly in the group treated with Epogam capsules. The study demonstrated significant improvements of the eczema symptoms but no significant difference was found between the placebo and the Epogam groups. No therapeutic effect was shown on asthma symptoms or fidget. (Arch Dis Child 1996;75:494-497)

Herbal interventions for chronic asthma in adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Blinding was adequately described in 22 studies (85%; Figure 2); one of these used an emetic (Ipecacuanha) to mask the side effect of the intervention (Tylophora). 22 Only seven studies (27%) reported withdrawals 13,19,23,24,28,34,35 and only one study gave adequate descriptions of all three domains.…”

“…[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] All were double blinded except one single blinded study where the colours of study and placebo medicine sachets differed. 26 Sample sizes ranged from eight 32 to 334, 13 six studies recruited children 13,14,19,23,24,35 although one of these reported subjects up to age 55 24 (clarification was sought but not received) -and one a mixed age group of 14-20 yrs. 21 Age was not stated in five studies, 17,25,27,37,38 and the remainder recruited adults.…”

“…One study of Evening Primrose Oil did not contribute numerical data, but reported no significant difference for the asthma sub-group which we confirmed in correspondence with the author. 23 Since studies reported individually-defined measures of changes in lung function, meta-analysis was only possible within subgroups of single studies of Boswelia 18 and Mai-Men-Don Tang, 24 and between studies of Tylophora indica. 21,25,36,37 …”

“…21 Age was not stated in five studies, 17,25,27,37,38 and the remainder recruited adults. Inclusion criteria required demonstration of reversibility in five studies, 18,24,34,35,38 meeting existing diagnostic criteria for asthma in ten studies, 13,14,18,19,23,27,29,30,33,40 or a clinical diagnosis or history of asthma in ten. 17,[20][21][22]25,28,31,32,36,37 Inclusion criteria were not stated in one study.…”

“…The remainder were RCTs using either parallel groups 14,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] or a crossover design. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] All were double blinded except one single blinded study where the colours of study and placebo medicine sachets differed.…”