Depressed immune response to tetanus in children with vitamin A deficiency.
A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with 236 preschool children, age 3-6 y, in Indonesia to assess immune status in mild vitamin A deficiency. The immune response to tetanus immunization was used as a measure of immune competence. Clinically normal children (n = 118) and children with mild xerophthalmia (n = 118) were randomly assigned to receive oral vitamin A (60,000 micrograms retinol equivalent) or placebo treatment for a total of four study groups. Two weeks after treatment, children were immunized with diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to tetanus at baseline and 3 wk following immunization were measured by ELISA. After adjusting for previous tetanus immunization, clinically normal and xerophthalmic children receiving vitamin A had a significantly greater IgG response to tetanus than clinically normal and xerophthalmic children receiving placebo (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that children with mild vitamin A deficiency have a relative immune depression compared with children who have been supplemented to normal vitamin A levels.
Semba
R D
RD
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Muhilal
Scott
A L
AL
Natadisastra
G
G
Wirasasmita
S
S
Mele
L
L
Ridwan
E
E
West
K P
KP
Sommer
A
A
D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000178:diet therapy
D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014801:Vitamin A