title: Can a short period of micronutrient supplementation in older institutionalized people improve response to influenza vaccine? A randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that a micronutrient supplement can improve seroconversion after influenza immunization in older institutionalized people.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nursing and residential homes in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-four residents aged 60 and older from 31 homes were initially randomized; of these, 119 (72.6%) completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized to receive a micronutrient supplement providing the reference nutrient intake for all vitamins and trace elements or identical placebo. Tablets were taken over an 8-week period during September and October 2000; influenza vaccine was administered 4 weeks after their commencement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody response as defined by a fourfold or greater titer rise over 4 weeks and assessed separately for each of the three antigens contained in the 2000/2001 influenza vaccine (A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2), B/Beijing/184/93 (B)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a significant increase in serum concentrations of vitamins A, C, D3, E, folate, and selenium in the supplemented group, there was no significant difference between groups (supplemented vs placebo, respectively) in the proportion of participants seroconverting to H1N1 (41% vs 49%, P=.374), H3N2 (49% vs 58%, P=.343), or B (41% vs 40%, P=.944).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A micronutrient supplement providing the reference nutrient intake administered over 8 weeks had no beneficial effect on antibody response to influenza vaccine in older people living in long-term care.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, and Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. stephenallsup@tinyworld.co.uk
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Allsup
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shenkin
authors.forename: Margot A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gosney
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zambon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000502:physiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid; D012643:Selenium