Vitamin A supplementation enhances specific IgG antibody levels and total lymphocyte numbers while improving morbidity in measles

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992 Mar;11(3):203-9. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199203000-00006.

Abstract

The effect of vitamin A supplementation on selected factors of immunity was tested in African children (ages 4 to 24 months with complicated measles) during a randomized double-blind intervention trial. Placebo (n = 31) and treated groups (n = 29) had similar baseline characteristics. The supplemented group had significant reductions in morbidity (expressed as integrated morbidity scores) during the acute (Day 8, P = 0.006) and chronic (Day 42, P = 0.02; 6 months; P = 0.002) phases. In the treated group there was an increase in total number of lymphocytes (Day 42, P = 0.05) and measles IgG antibody concentrations (Day 8, P = 0.02), both of which have consistently been previously shown to correlate more closely with outcome in measles than other immunologic, clinical and radiologic factors. Interleukin 2 and plasma complement values were unaffected by vitamin A supplementation. These findings reinforce results from animal studies that show that the pathways of vitamin A activity in decreasing morbidity and mortality are partly founded on selective immunopotentiation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / drug effects*
  • Complement C3 / drug effects
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / drug effects*
  • Infant
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Leukocyte Count / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • Measles / complications
  • Measles / drug therapy
  • Measles / immunology*
  • Morbidity
  • Vitamin A / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Complement C3
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-2
  • Vitamin A