Clinical evaluation of efficacy and safety of appetizer syrup as appetite stimulant in children with non-pathogenic anorexia

Abstract

Anorexia, <em>i.e.,</em> lack of desire to eat or loss of appetite is a common cause of parental concern in pre-school and school-going children. Many herbs and herbal formulations have been traditionally used in India as &lsquo;appetizers&rsquo; in children with non-pathological anorexia and over 100 phyto-constituents are claimed to have appetite-stimulant effects, though efficacy and safety of many of these formulations needs to be evaluated with well-controlled clinical trials. Appetizer syrup (Mfd: Dabur India Limited) is an <em>Ayurvedic</em> polyherbal formulation proposed to stimulate appetite in children with non-pathogenic anorexia. It comprises herbs such as <em>Kismis </em>(<em>Vitis vinifera </em>L<em>.</em>)<em>, Pipalli </em>(<em>Piper longum </em>L.),<em> Anar </em>(<em>Punica granatum </em>L<em>.</em>)<em>, Amla </em>(<em>Emblica officinalis </em>Gaertn), etc., that are traditionally known to be useful in digestive impairment and are documented to possess appetite stimulant and strength promoting properties. Present trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel group clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Appetizer Syrup in children with non-pathogenic anorexia. Results were assessed from baseline to study completion on basis of the appetite stimulating effects of the formulation and the benefits secondary to appetite stimulation like changes in anthropometric measurements and academic performance.