NCT05936528

Brief Summary

Introduction: Lactoferrin has several uses due to its effects. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects. Its safety is proven by food and drug administration. Aims: The objective is to study the effect of lactoferrin on improving clinical outcomes in ICU patients, and also to evaluate its safety. Patients and populations: A sample of 660 patients (330 patients in both groups A, and B) who will be admitted to ICU departments in Mansoura university hospital will be used to represent the population in ICU. Methods: A sample of 660 participants was randomized 1:1 into two groups (group A (330 patients), and group B (330 patients)). This study is a single blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. Randomization was performed by independent clinical pharmacists working in hospital ICU departments.

Trial Health

63
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
660

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_4

Timeline
20mo left

Started Dec 2025

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress18%
Dec 2025Dec 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 28, 2023

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 7, 2023

Completed
2.5 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 29, 2025

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 29, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 29, 2027

Last Updated

July 28, 2025

Status Verified

July 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

June 28, 2023

Last Update Submit

July 23, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Clinical outcomesICU patientsLactoferrinAntioxidant therapyAnti-inflammatory therapyAntimicrobial therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • 28-days mortality rate

    Dead or alive

    28 days

  • Number of Participants With any allergic or hypersensitivity reactions

    incidence of any allergic or hypersensitivity reactions

    up to 60 days

Secondary Outcomes (57)

  • Day of death

    up to 60 days

  • Incidence of need for Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

    up to 60 days

  • Oxygen Support Duration

    up to 60 days

  • Duration of ICU stay

    up to 60 days

  • White blood cells (WBCs) counts on day 3

    day 3

  • +52 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (12)

  • Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on day 3

    day 3

  • Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on day 7

    day 7

  • Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on day 14

    day 14

  • +9 more other outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Lactoferrin

EXPERIMENTAL

Lactoferrin 100 mg sachets with a dose of 200 mg (2 sachets) orally twice daily (400 mg per day) In addition to standard of care

Drug: Lactoferrin

Standard

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Subgroup B1 will receive standard antioxidant drug (Acetyl cysteine 600 mg / 12 hr) orally to be compared with lactoferrin A1 subgroup. * Subgroup B2 will receive standard anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory drug (dexamethasone I.V 8 mg / day) to be compared with lactoferrin A2 subgroup. * Subgroup B3 will receive standard antibacterial drugs to be compared with lactoferrin A3 subgroup.

Drug: Antioxidant therapiesDrug: DexamethasoneDrug: Antibacterial therapies

Interventions

antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effect

Lactoferrin

Acetyl cysteine 600 mg / 12 hr

Standard

dexamethasone I.V 8 mg / day

Standard

Antibacterial drugs in their approved doses

Standard

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may not qualify if:

  • inability to give informed consent by patients or their relative,
  • history of hypersensitivity to milk products,
  • history of lactoferrin use in the past 6 months,
  • patients with lactose intolerance,
  • patients with no enteral access to administer LF either orally or by Ryle tube,
  • patients who are expected to die within 48 hours, and
  • patients with poor oral absorption as in case of shock and resected bowel.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Mansoura University hospital

Al Mansurah, El-dakhlia, Egypt

Location

Related Publications (38)

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  • Hegazy, S.K., Hassan, A.H. The effect of combination treatment with casirivimab and imdevimab versus standard antiviral therapy on clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Discov Med 1, 71 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44337-024-00045-3

    BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 22292559BACKGROUND
  • Legrand D, Pierce A, Elass E, Carpentier M, Mariller C, Mazurier J. Lactoferrin structure and functions. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;606:163-94. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-74087-4_6.

    PMID: 18183929BACKGROUND
  • Siqueiros-Cendon T, Arevalo-Gallegos S, Iglesias-Figueroa BF, Garcia-Montoya IA, Salazar-Martinez J, Rascon-Cruz Q. Immunomodulatory effects of lactoferrin. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2014 May;35(5):557-66. doi: 10.1038/aps.2013.200.

    PMID: 24786230BACKGROUND
  • Bukowska-Osko I, Popiel M, Kowalczyk P. The Immunological Role of the Placenta in SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Viral Transmission, Immune Regulation, and Lactoferrin Activity. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 28;22(11):5799. doi: 10.3390/ijms22115799.

    PMID: 34071527BACKGROUND
  • Kowalczyk P, Kaczynska K, Kleczkowska P, Bukowska-Osko I, Kramkowski K, Sulejczak D. The Lactoferrin Phenomenon-A Miracle Molecule. Molecules. 2022 May 4;27(9):2941. doi: 10.3390/molecules27092941.

    PMID: 35566292BACKGROUND
  • Poljsak B, Suput D, Milisav I. Achieving the balance between ROS and antioxidants: when to use the synthetic antioxidants. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:956792. doi: 10.1155/2013/956792. Epub 2013 Apr 29.

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    PMID: 34948180BACKGROUND
  • Parekattil S.J., Esteves S.C., Agarwal A. Male Infertility. Springer; Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: 2020. Harmful Effects of Antioxidant Therapy

    BACKGROUND
  • Abdelhamid M, Jung CG, Zhou C, Abdullah M, Nakano M, Wakabayashi H, Abe F, Michikawa M. Dietary Lactoferrin Supplementation Prevents Memory Impairment and Reduces Amyloid-beta Generation in J20 Mice. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;74(1):245-259. doi: 10.3233/JAD-191181.

    PMID: 31985470BACKGROUND
  • Shi P, Fan F, Chen H, Xu Z, Cheng S, Lu W, Du M. A bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide induced osteogenesis via regulation of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. J Dairy Sci. 2020 May;103(5):3950-3960. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-17425. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

    PMID: 32197844BACKGROUND
  • Moreno-Navarrete JM, Ortega FJ, Bassols J, Ricart W, Fernandez-Real JM. Decreased circulating lactoferrin in insulin resistance and altered glucose tolerance as a possible marker of neutrophil dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Oct;94(10):4036-44. doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-0215. Epub 2009 Jul 7.

    PMID: 19584176BACKGROUND
  • Kaczmarek N, Jamka M, Walkowiak J. [An association of selected polymorphisms of the lactoferrin gene and genes for lactoferrin receptors in the prevalence of metabolic disorders in obese subjects]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2020 Apr 22;48(284):120-123. Polish.

    PMID: 32352945BACKGROUND
  • Ikeda Y, Tajima S, Izawa-Ishizawa Y, Kihira Y, Ishizawa K, Yoshida S, Aihara K, Tsuchiya K, Tamaki T. Bovine milk-derived lactoferrin exerts proangiogenic effects in an Src-Akt-eNOS-dependent manner in response to ischemia. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2013 May;61(5):423-9. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e318287d526.

    PMID: 23364610BACKGROUND
  • Jenssen H, Hancock RE. Antimicrobial properties of lactoferrin. Biochimie. 2009 Jan;91(1):19-29. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2008.05.015. Epub 2008 Jun 5.

    PMID: 18573312BACKGROUND
  • Artym J, Zimecki M. Milk-derived proteins and peptides in clinical trials. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2013 Aug 6;67:800-16. doi: 10.5604/17322693.1061635.

    PMID: 24018446BACKGROUND
  • Tolone S, Pellino V, Vitaliti G, Lanzafame A, Tolone C. Evaluation of Helicobacter Pylori eradication in pediatric patients by triple therapy plus lactoferrin and probiotics compared to triple therapy alone. Ital J Pediatr. 2012 Oct 31;38:63. doi: 10.1186/1824-7288-38-63.

    PMID: 23114016BACKGROUND
  • Wu J, Chen J, Wu W, Shi J, Zhong Y, van Tol EA, Tang Q, Cai W. Enteral supplementation of bovine lactoferrin improves gut barrier function in rats after massive bowel resection. Br J Nutr. 2014 Aug 28;112(4):486-92. doi: 10.1017/S000711451400107X. Epub 2014 May 15.

    PMID: 24830343BACKGROUND
  • Sherman MP, Sherman J, Arcinue R, Niklas V. Randomized Control Trial of Human Recombinant Lactoferrin: A Substudy Reveals Effects on the Fecal Microbiome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants. J Pediatr. 2016 Jun;173 Suppl:S37-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.02.074.

    PMID: 27234409BACKGROUND
  • Berlutti F, Pantanella F, Natalizi T, Frioni A, Paesano R, Polimeni A, Valenti P. Antiviral properties of lactoferrin--a natural immunity molecule. Molecules. 2011 Aug 16;16(8):6992-7018. doi: 10.3390/molecules16086992.

    PMID: 21847071BACKGROUND
  • Miotto M, Di Rienzo L, Bo L, Boffi A, Ruocco G, Milanetti E. Molecular Mechanisms Behind Anti SARS-CoV-2 Action of Lactoferrin. Front Mol Biosci. 2021 Feb 15;8:607443. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.607443. eCollection 2021.

    PMID: 33659275BACKGROUND
  • Manzoni P, Stolfi I, Messner H, Cattani S, Laforgia N, Romeo MG, Bollani L, Rinaldi M, Gallo E, Quercia M, Maule M, Mostert M, Decembrino L, Magaldi R, Mosca F, Vagnarelli F, Memo L, Betta PM, Stronati M, Farina D; Italian Task Force for the Study and Prevention of Neonatal Fungal Infections-the Italian Society of Neonatology. Bovine lactoferrin prevents invasive fungal infections in very low birth weight infants: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2012 Jan;129(1):116-23. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-0279. Epub 2011 Dec 19.

    PMID: 22184648BACKGROUND
  • León-Sicairos N., Ordaz-Pichardo C., Carrero J.C., de la Garza M. Natural Remedies in the Fight Against Parasites. Intechopen; London, UK: 2017. Lactoferrin in the Battle against Intestinal Parasites: A Review.

    BACKGROUND
  • Yamauchi K, Wakabayashi H, Shin K, Takase M. Bovine lactoferrin: benefits and mechanism of action against infections. Biochem Cell Biol. 2006 Jun;84(3):291-6. doi: 10.1139/o06-054.

    PMID: 16936799BACKGROUND
  • Alexander DB, Iigo M, Abdelgied M, Ozeki K, Tanida S, Joh T, Takahashi S, Tsuda H. Bovine lactoferrin and Crohn's disease: a case study. Biochem Cell Biol. 2017 Feb;95(1):133-141. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2016-0107. Epub 2016 Nov 30.

    PMID: 28165294BACKGROUND
  • He S, McEuen AR, Blewett SA, Li P, Buckley MG, Leufkens P, Walls AF. The inhibition of mast cell activation by neutrophil lactoferrin: uptake by mast cells and interaction with tryptase, chymase and cathepsin G. Biochem Pharmacol. 2003 Mar 15;65(6):1007-15. doi: 10.1016/s0006-2952(02)01651-9.

    PMID: 12623133BACKGROUND
  • Wakabayashi H, Yamauchi K, Abe F. Quality control of commercial bovine lactoferrin. Biometals. 2018 Jun;31(3):313-319. doi: 10.1007/s10534-018-0098-2. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

    PMID: 29619653BACKGROUND
  • Nappi C, Tommaselli GA, Morra I, Massaro M, Formisano C, Di Carlo C. Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: a prospective controlled randomized study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88(9):1031-5. doi: 10.1080/00016340903117994.

    PMID: 19639462BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 32738305BACKGROUND
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  • Hegazy SK, Tharwat S, Hassan AH. Clinical study to compare the efficacy and safety of casirivimab & imdevimab, remdesivir, and favipravir in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. J Clin Virol Plus. 2023 Jun;3(2):100151. doi: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2023.100151. Epub 2023 May 10.

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    BACKGROUND
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  • Hassan AH, Hegazy SK, Radwan ST. Clinical Study to Evaluate the Possible Efficacy and Safety of Antibodies Combination (casirivimab and imdevimab) versus standard antiviral therapy as antiviral agent against Corona virus 2 infection in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Research Square; 2023. Available from: doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1991618/v2.

    BACKGROUND

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Critical Illness

Interventions

LactoferrinDexamethasone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Disease AttributesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Serine EndopeptidasesEndopeptidasesPeptide HydrolasesHydrolasesEnzymesEnzymes and CoenzymesSerine ProteasesGlycoproteinsGlycoconjugatesCarbohydratesTransferrinsIron-Binding ProteinsCarrier ProteinsProteinsAmino Acids, Peptides, and ProteinsLactoglobulinsWhey ProteinsMilk ProteinsAnimal Proteins, DietaryDietary ProteinsGlobulinsMetalloproteinsPregnadienetriolsPregnadienesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic CompoundsSteroids, Fluorinated

Study Officials

  • Ahmed H Hassan, Pharmacist

    Mansoura University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ahmed H Hassan, Pharmacist

CONTACT

Ahmed H Hassan, Pharmacist

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 28, 2023

First Posted

July 7, 2023

Study Start

December 29, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 29, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 29, 2027

Last Updated

July 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

After the end and publication of the study

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
Time Frame
After the end and publication of the study
Access Criteria
all will be accessible
More information

Available IPD Datasets

Individual Participant Data Set Access

Locations