The Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Immune Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Mary L Fantacone,Malcolm B Lowry,Jeffrey S Gombart,Sean K Gombart,Scott W Leonard,Adrian F Gombart,Alexander J Michels,Gerd Bobe,Sandra L Uesugi,Jaewoo Choi

doi:10.3390/nu12082447

Abstract

Older adults are at increased risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies that contribute to age-related immune system decline. Several lines of evidence suggest that taking a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement (MVM) could improve immune function in individuals 55 and older. To test this hypothesis, we provided healthy older adults with either an MVM supplement formulated to improve immune function (Redoxon® VI, Singapore) or an identical, inactive placebo control to take daily for 12 weeks. Prior to and after treatment, we measured (1) their blood mineral and vitamin status (i.e., vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D); (2) immune function (i.e., whole blood bacterial killing activity, neutrophil phagocytic activity, and reactive oxygen species production); (3) immune status (salivary IgA and plasma cytokine/chemokine levels); and (4) self-reported health status. MVM supplementation improved vitamin C and zinc status in blood and self-reported health-status without altering measures of immune function or status or vitamin D levels, suggesting that healthy older adults may benefit from MVM supplementation. Further development of functional assays and larger study populations should improve detection of specific changes in immune function after supplementation in healthy older adults. Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02876315.

Highlights

Worldwide vitamin deficiencies play a primary etiological role in global disease burden [1].About 35% of older adults in the United States, Canada and Europe are deficient in one or more micronutrients [2,3]
We evaluated the changes to whole blood bacterial killing activity against Staphylococcus aureus, phagocytic activity, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other immune parameters
There is a clear rationale to test the effect of these supplements in older adults, who are at risk for decreased immune function, including a loss of neutrophil function [46], but multiple vitamin and mineral shortfalls in the diet [41]

Summary

Introduction

About 35% of older adults in the United States, Canada and Europe are deficient in one or more micronutrients [2,3]. This is especially the case for vitamin C [4,5], zinc [6], and vitamin D [7,8,9]. Many nutrients play vital roles in the immune system, numerous studies highlight the importance of vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc [14,15]. Zinc sufficiency alters numbers and function of neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer T cells and B cells [22,23] and is an important mineral for neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis [24]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion