Lertal® is an oral nutraceutical containing Perilla frutescens extract, vitamin D3 and quercetin, which has been shown to reduce allergic symptoms in adults. The purpose of this randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effects of Lertal® in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

146 children (9.1 ± 1.88 years) have been enrolled. All participants were treated with standard antihistaminic medication. They were randomly assigned to placebo or to the test product for 4 weeks. The main outcome was the change in Total Symptom Score during the last 12 hours, from baseline to the end of the study.

A reduction in Total Symptom Score has been measured in both groups, without any significant difference between the two groups. However, among the 24 children who experienced symptoms worsening, 8 were in the supplemented group and 16 in the placebo group (p < 0.05). All children with symptoms worsening was poly-allergic children exposed to multiple allergen.

Therefore, this study suggests that Lertal® has no clear effect on treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in children when used in combination with antihistaminic treatment, but may prevent symptoms worsening in polyallergic chilren.

Marseglia GL, Licari A, Ciprandi G, Italian Study Group on Pediatric Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis. A polycentric, randomized, double blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study on Lertal®, a multicomponent nutraceutical, as add-on treatment in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: phase I during active treatment. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2019 Mar-April.33(2):617-622.