Helminth infections likely provide a protective influence against some immune-mediated and metabolic diseases since helminth infection dramatically decreased in developed countries shortly before the explosive rise in the prevalence of these diseases. The capacity of helminths to activate immune-regulatory circuits in their hosts and to modulate the composition of intestinal flora appears to be the mechanisms of protective action. Animal models of disease show that various helminth species prevent and/or block inflammation in various organs in a diverse range of diseases. Clinical trials have demonstrated that medicinal exposure to T. suis or small numbers of N. americanus is safe with minor, if any, reported adverse effects. This includes exposure of inflamed intestine to T. suis, asthmathic lung to N. americanus, and in patients with atopy. Efficacy has been suggested in some small studies, but is absent in others. Factors that may have led to inconclusive results in some trials are discussed. To date, there have been no registered clinical trials using helminths to treat metabolic syndrome or its component conditions. However, the excellent safety profile of T. suis or N. americanus suggests that such studies should be possible. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
5
5%
Other
11
11%
Unknown
27
28%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 12. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 25 June 2025.
All research outputs
#3,607,895
of 33,031,246 outputs
Outputs from Parasite Immunology
#29
of 1,127 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#50,880
of 346,379 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Parasite Immunology
#2
of 24 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 33,031,246 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 88th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 1,127 research outputs from this source. They receive a mean Attention Score of 4.0. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 96% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 346,379 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done well, scoring higher than 85% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 24 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 91% of its contemporaries.
