title: The effect of dietary supplementation with vitamins A, C and E on cell-mediated immune function in elderly long-stay patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Thirty elderly long-stay patients were randomly allocated to receive either placebo or dietary supplementation with vitamins A, C and E for 28 days. Nutritional status and cell-mediated immune function were assessed before and after the period of supplementation. Following vitamin supplementation, cell-mediated immune function improved as indicated by a significant increase in the absolute number of T cells (p less than 0.05), T4 subsets (p less than 0.05), T4 to T8 ratio (p less than 0.01) and the proliferation of lymphocytes in response to phytohaemagglutinin (p less than 0.01). In contrast, no significant changes were noted in the immune function of the placebo group. We conclude that supplementation with the dietary antioxidants vitamins A, C and E can improve aspects of cell-mediated immune function in elderly long-stay patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine for the Elderly, St James's University Hospital, Leeds.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Purkins
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Heatley
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Mascie-Taylor
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Belfield
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D004032:Diet; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007326:Institutionalization; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010919:Placebos; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid