Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42482061›Full record

Trial reportNutrition journal2026

Accelerated recovery and alleviated pain by oral whey protein in herpes zoster patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Xiaowen Niu, Hua Ni, Linyun Shen, Bei Zhu, Huan Shi, Qingqiong Luo, Jianxin Yang, Hui Shen, Dongyao Wang, Sha Dai and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Nutrition journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Xiaowen Niu *Department of Nutrition, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, No.1278 Baode Road, Shanghai, China.
Hua Ni *Department of Nutrition, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, No.1278 Baode Road, Shanghai, China.
Linyun ShenDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Bei ZhuDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Huan ShiDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Qingqiong LuoDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Jianxin YangDepartment of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, No.800, Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, China.
Hui ShenDepartment of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, No.800, Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, China.
Dongyao WangDepartment of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Sha DaiDepartment of Nutrition, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, No.1278 Baode Road, Shanghai, China. ds_2018@163.com.
Yuxiao TangDepartment of Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Second Military Medical University, No.800, Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, China. tangyuxiao@xylab.life.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7576-8928

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81903306Shanghai Natural Science Foundation 23ZR1477600Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST 2022QNRC001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHerpes zoster is usually caused by varicella-zoster virus reactivation, particularly in the aged. It imposes postherpetic neuralgia and impacts life quality, which may be improved by nutritional interventions.

objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of oral whey protein supplementation in the recovery, pain, and life quality of herpes zoster patients.

methodsForty herpes zoster patients were recruited in Shanghai Dermatology Hospital and randomly divided into the treatment group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20), with normal therapy. Whey protein was orally administrated 20 g per time, twice per day. The recovery time, pain scores (VAS), dermatology life quality index (DLQI), nutritional status (PG-SGA), oxidative stress markers, and immune parameters were investigated.

resultsWhey protein supplementation significantly reduced the recovery time and scabbing time compared to controls. Pain scores were decreased, and DLQI was improved. Nutritional status (PG-SGA scores) was improved, with increased serum prealbumin. Total protein and albumin were not changed. Oral whey protein increased the GSH content and GSH-PX activity, but the SOD activity, MDA content, and NO content were not altered. The serum contents of IL-6, IFN-γ, IgG, and IgA were increased, while TNF-α, C3, C4, CRP, IgE, and IgM, were not statistically changed.

conclusionsOral whey protein adjuvant to standard therapy accelerated recovery, reduced pain, and improved quality of life in herpes zoster patients, probably by improving the nutritional status, enhancing the antioxidant system, and supporting the immune system, which highlighted the application of whey protein in herpes zoster therapy.

Indexed as

Herpes ZosterNeuralgia, PostherpeticPainWhey ProteinsAdministration, OralAgedDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNutritional StatusOxidative StressQuality of LifeWhey ProteinsGlutathioneHerpes zosterImmunomodulationNutritional supportPostherpetic neuralgiaWhey protein

Identifiers

PMID42482061
PMCPMC13670720

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.