Efficacy of a Polyherbal Appetite Stimulant in the Treatment of Anorexia in Children.

ABSTRACT

A post marketing surveillance study was done on children with ages 1-15 years, who were evaluated on the basis of the symptoms of loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, icterus, irritability and hepatomegaly. A polyherbal appetite stimulant, New Livfit was administered 1 teaspoon twice daily to children > 3 years and 10-20 drops thrice daily to children < 3 years, respectively, before meals for 3 weeks. The severity of anorexia was recorded at baseline and at the 4th week and 6th week after initiation of therapy. It was observed that only 0.8% children had normal appetite at baseline which increased to 67.4% and 78.9% at 4 and 6 weeks after the initiation of treatment. There was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in appetite score in children with anorexia at 4 weeks and 6 weeks after initiation of treatment as compared to baseline. The results show that New Livfit is an efficacious and safe treatment for anorexia in children.