Vitamin A supplementation enhances infants' immune responses to hepatitis B vaccine but does not affect responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

J Nutr. 2007 May;137(5):1272-7. doi: 10.1093/jn/137.5.1272.

Abstract

Vitamin A supplementation reduces child mortality and severe morbidity in less developed countries, and the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) offers an ideal opportunity to deliver supplements in developing countries. High-dose vitamin A supplementation has been shown to have no effect on the immunogenicity of oral polio vaccine, tetanus toxoid, pertussis, or on measles vaccine given at 9 mo, but a negative effect on measles vaccine administered at 6 mo and a potentiating effect on diphtheria vaccine. Its effect on the antibody response to hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens has not yet been established. To assess these effects, the present trial was carried out in the Offinso district of Ghana; 1077 infants were enrolled shortly after birth and randomized either to receive or not to receive 15 mg retinol equivalent with vitamin A together with the pentavalent "diphtheria-polio-tetanus-Haemophilus influenzae b-hepatitis B" vaccine at 6, 10, and 14 wk of age. All mothers received a postpartum supplement of 120 mg retinol equivalent vitamin A as per national policy. Blood samples were taken from infants at 6 and 18 wk of age. The results are based on 888 infants (82.4%) who completed the trial. The vitamin A supplementation did not affect the immune response to Haemophilus influenzae type b, but there was a significant improvement in the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine (93.9 vs. 90.2%, P = 0.04). However, given the high percentage of infants with seroprotection in the control group, it is doubtful that inclusion of vitamin A in the EPI would be justified on these grounds alone.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / biosynthesis*
  • Bacterial Capsules
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Haemophilus Vaccines / immunology*
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Vitamin A / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Haemophilus Vaccines
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Vitamin A