LongoVital (R) and herpes labialis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: LongoVital (LV) (DK. Reg. No. 5 178/75) is a herbal-based tablet enriched with the recommended daily doses of vitamins. The present study w as undertaken to investigate possible prevention of recurrent herpes labial is (RHL) during 4 months' daily intake of LV. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, clinical trial. SUBJECTS: Fifty-two patients with a minimum of 4 yearly HL episodes. METHODS: The patients were given either LV or placebo for 4 months and foll owed-up for another 4 months. The number, duration and maximal size of lesi ons were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (Group A) received LV and 25 patients placeb o (Group B). There were no statistically significant differences between Gr oup A and Group B with respect to number, duration and size of lesions. Wit hin Group A, however, there was a decrease in all three parameters after 2 months' intake of LV (P < 0.05). The decrease in the number of HL episodes in Group A lasted during the entire follow-up period (P < 0.05). At the end of the medication period, significantly more patients in Group A than in G roup B assessed the number and duration of recurrences to be reduced compar ed with before the trial (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LV was not superior to placebo in the prevention of RHL althoug h subjective assessment was in favour of LV, and the LV group had less epis odes after 2 months on the tablets.