Vitamin E Beneficial for Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly

BOSTON--Scientists studied the effects of vitamin E supplementation on respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents. Participants were found to have a lower incidence of common cold and had fewer respiratory tract infections when taking a vitamin E supplement, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (292 7:828-836, 2004) (www.jama.ama-assn.org).

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 451 participants aged at least 65 years and living at one of 33 long-term care facilities in the Boston area. Vitamin E (200 International Units [IU]) or a placebo capsule was administered daily for one year and all participants received a capsule containing half the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of essential vitamins and minerals. The incidence of respiratory tract infections, number of persons and number of days with respiratory tract infections (upper and lower), and number of new antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections were studied.

The study found vitamin E had no significant effect on incidence or number of days of infection for all upper or lower respiratory tract infections. However, fewer participants receiving vitamin E acquired one or more respiratory tract infections (65 percent versus 74 percent), or upper respiratory tract infections (50 percent versus 62 percent).

When common colds were analyzed in a post hoc subgroup analysis, the vitamin E group had a lower incidence of common cold (66 percent versus 83 percent per person, per year) and fewer participants in the vitamin E group acquired one or more colds (46 percent versus 57 percent). Vitamin E had no significant effect on antibiotic use.

Scientists concluded supplementation with 200 IU per day of vitamin E did not have a statistically significant effect on lower respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents. However, a protective effect of vitamin E supplementation on upper respiratory tract infections was observed, particularly with the common cold.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) issued a statement regarding the study, noting it further illuminates the importance of good nutrition in supporting immune function. "Some experts have advocated that multivitamins be provided to nursing home residents as a matter of policy to avoid the consequences of inadequate nutrient intakes," said Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., president of CRN (www.crnusa.org). "However, it is possible that the multivitamin attenuated the effects of the vitamin E supplement."

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines