lactoferrin and Tinea-Pedis

A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of lactoferrin, which is a protein component of cow's milk, in the treatment of tinea pedis. Doses of either 600 mg or 2000 mg of lactoferrin, or a placebo was orally administered daily for 8 weeks to 37 adults who were judged to have mild or moderate tinea pedis. Dermatological improvement and antifungal efficacy were assessed. In the analysis of all subjects, dermatological symptoms scores in all groups decreased but the differences were not statistically significant comparing the three groups. However, in the analysis limited to subjects with moderate vesicular or interdigital tinea pedis, dermatological symptoms scores in the lactoferrin-treated groups decreased significantly in comparison with the placebo group (P < 0.05). The organisms isolated were Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. A mycological cure was not seen in any of the subjects. In the 37 subjects there were no adverse events and no subject withdrew from the study because of an adverse event. These results suggest that orally administered lactoferrin can improve the dermatological symptoms in some subjects. The potential usefulness of lactoferrin as a functional food material for treating tinea pedis was seen for the first time in this study.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Animals; Cattle; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Tinea Pedis; Trichophyton

Dermatophytosis is the most common skin infection caused by dermatophytic fungi, such as Trichophyton spp. We studied the in vitro and in vivo antifungal effects of lactoferrin against Trichophyton. Human and bovine lactoferrin, and a bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide, lactoferricin B, showed in vitro antifungal activity that was dependent on the test strain and medium used. In guinea pigs infected on the back with Trichophyton mentagrophytes (i.e. those with tinea corporis), consecutive daily po administration of bovine lactoferrin did not prevent development of symptoms during the early phase of infection, but facilitated clinical improvement of skin lesions after the peak of the symptoms. The fungal burden in lesions was less in guinea pigs that had been given lactoferrin than in untreated controls 21 days after infection. In guinea pigs infected on the foot with T. mentagrophytes (i.e. those with tinea pedis), the fungal burden of the skin on the heel portion of the infected foot 35 days after infection was lower in animals fed lactoferrin than in controls. These results suggest the potential usefulness of lactoferrin as a food component for promoting dermatophytosis cure.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Cattle; Dermatomycoses; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Food; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Lactoferrin; Tinea Pedis; Trichophyton