title: Simultaneous vitamin A administration at routine immunization contact enhances antibody response to diphtheria vaccine in infants younger than six months.
abstract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of simultaneous vitamin A supplementation and diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccination on the antibody levels. Infants aged 6-17 wk (n = 56) were randomly given 15 mg oral vitamin A or placebo at the time of their DPT immunization. Three such doses were given at monthly intervals. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus were assayed on enrollment and 1 mo after the third dose. Baseline antibody concentrations to diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus did not differ between the vitamin A-supplemented and placebo-treated groups. The postdose antibody to diphtheria level was significantly greater in the vitamin A than in the placebo-treated group. The geometric mean +/- SEM antibody levels (mg/L) were 22.9 +/- 1.2 and 11.0 +/- 1.3 in the vitamin A and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.029). The postsupplementation concentrations of antibodies to pertussis and tetanus did not differ between the two groups. These results suggest that antibody response to diphtheria vaccination was potentiated by simultaneous vitamin A administration and DPT immunization.
authors.affiliation: ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh Society for Applied Research, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahalanabis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wahed
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Siber
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santosham
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D014801:Vitamin A