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Cited by 290Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative StressPediatric health and respiratory diseasesVitamin D Research Studies

Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Meydani, Simin Nikbin, Leka, Lynette S., Fine, Basil C., Dallal, Gerard E., Keusch, Gerald T., Singh, Maria Fiatarone, Hamer, Davidson H.·2004·JAMA
DOI 10.1001/jama.292.7.828PMC PMC2377357
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Abstract

CONTEXT: Respiratory tract infections are prevalent in elderly individuals, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and use of health care services. Vitamin E supplementation has been shown to improve immune response in elderly persons. However, the clinical importance of these findings has not been determined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of 1 year of vitamin E supplementation on respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from April 1998 to August 2001 at 33 long-term care facilities in the Boston, Mass, area. A total of 617 persons aged at least 65 years and who met the study's eligibility criteria were enrolled; 451 (73%) completed the study. INTERVENTION: Vitamin E (200 IU) or placebo capsule administered daily; all participants received a capsule containing half the recommended daily allowance of essential vitamins and minerals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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 among all participants randomized and those who completed the study. RESULTS: Vitamin E had no significant effect on incidence or number of days with infection for all, upper, or lower respiratory tract infections. However, fewer participants receiving vitamin E acquired 1 or more respiratory tract infections (60% vs 68%; risk ratio [RR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.00; P =.048 for all participants; and 65% vs 74%; RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75-0.99; P =.04 for completing participants), or upper respiratory tract infections (44% vs 52%; RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.69-1.00; P =.05 for all participants; and 50% vs 62%; RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96; P =.01 for completing participants). When common colds were analyzed in a post hoc subgroup analysis, the vitamin E group had a lower incidence of common cold (0.67 vs 0.81 per person-year; RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.68-1.01; P =.06 for all participants; and 0.66 vs 0.83 per person-year; RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.98; P =.04 for completing participants) and fewer participants in the vitamin E group acquired 1 or more colds (40% vs 48%; RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.67-1.00; P =.05 for all participants; and 46% vs 57%; RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96; P =.02 for completing participants). Vitamin E had no significant effect on antibiotic use. CONCLUSIONS: 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, we observed a protective effect of vitamin E supplementation on upper respiratory tract infections, particularly the common cold, that merits further investigation.

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  • The risk of upper respiratory tract infections, especially common cold, was significantly lower after vitamin E supplementation in nursing home residents, although there was no apparent effect on lower respiratory tract infections.

    “The risk of upper respiratory tract infections, especially common cold, was significantly lower after vitamin E supplementation in nursing home residents, although there was no apparent effect on lower respiratory tract infections [125].”

    From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [125]

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Authors
Meydani, S. N., Leka, L. S., Fine, B. C., Dallal, G. E., Keusch, G. T., Singh, M. F., & Hamer, D. H.
Affiliations
Tufts University (US)
ORCID
Venue
JAMA
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2004-08-18
Volume
292
Issue
7
Pages
828
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
DOI
10.1001/jama.292.7.828
PMC
PMC2377357
OpenAlex
W2158574195
Cited by
290
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
FWCI
14.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (1R01-AG13975, R01AG013975)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
Keywords
vitamin E supplementation, respiratory infections, older adults, nursing home residents, long-term care, upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, common cold, antibiotic prescribing, immune response, vitamin E deficiency, frail elderly
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antioxidants, Common Cold, Double-Blind Method, Female, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Male, Nursing Homes, Nutritional Status, Respiratory Tract Infections, Vitamin E, Dietary Supplements

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