Clinical and immunological efficacy of complex therapy for bronchial asthma in children with the inclusion of components of far eastern brown algae

Classical basic therapy for asthma is aimed at stopping inflammation, primarily atopic, and has achieved significant positive results in the treatment of the disease, which has led to a decrease in the severity of asthma. The proportion of patients in whom asthma control is achieved does not exceed 30%; complete control is achieved in 5%, that is associated with the influence non-atopic factors on the pathogenesis of BA, leading to the search for additional methods of correction. Despite the identified biological, immunomodulatory properties of the components of brown algae, the mechanisms of their action, in asthma, are not sufficiently illuminated, which became the purpose of this study: to determine the possible immunomodulatory effect of a functional food product in children with asthma based on brown algae (Far Eastern kelp) and its use in addition to standard therapy to improve control of the course of this disease. Children with asthma (n = 56) aged from 5 to 17 years were comprehensively examined and divided into 2 groups: those who received a functional food product in addition to standard therapy (n = 20) and those who received only standard therapy (n = 36). Laboratory tests included CBC, immunogram, cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL- 10, IL-18, TNFá), blood ICC MPM, and herpesvirus DNA. Against the background of complex treatment, changes in the interleukin profile (IL-6, IL-10, IL-18) were noted, characteristic of a decrease in the intensity of inflammatory processes, including nonspecific ones, expressed in a tendency towards a decrease in the total number of lymphocytes, an increase in the immunoregulatory index both due to an increase in the number of T helper cells and and reduction of killer T cells. This was confirmed by a decrease in monocytes and ESR. Improved energy supply of immunocompetent blood cells (granulocytes and monocytes), a decrease in the number of patients with active replication of EBV and herpes virus type 6 indicate its immunomodulatory effect. The result of these changes was the positive clinical dynamics of asthma control indicators, which allows us to recommend the inclusion of a functional food product based on Far Eastern brown algae in addition to standard therapy for children with asthma aged 5-17 years.