No strong long-term effect of vitamin A supplementation in infancy on CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets. A community study from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

Ann Trop Paediatr. 2000 Dec;20(4):259-64. doi: 10.1080/02724936.2000.11748145.

Abstract

The World Health Organization recommends that 100,000 IU of vitamin A be given to infants between 6 and 12 months of age at the same time as measles vaccination in order to prevent vitamin A deficiency. In the present study, our aim was to assess the effect of vitamin A supplementation on T-cell subsets in a randomized factorial design, seeking a possible modifying effect of measles vaccination. Three hundred children were allocated either to two doses of measles vaccine at 6 and 9 months of age or to poliomyelitis vaccine at age 6 months and measles vaccine at age 9 months. Within each group, infants were to receive two doses of vitamin A or two doses of placebo at 6 and 9 months of age. We found no significant effect of vitamin A supplementation on CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets at 3 and 9 months after supplementation. We found no effect of measles vaccine and no interaction between vitamin A supplementation and measles vaccine. Based on these observations, vitamin A supplementation does not seem to have a strong long-term effect on CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets in infants without clinical vitamin A deficiency.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Measles Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Measles Vaccine / immunology*
  • Poliovirus Vaccines / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A / immunology

Substances

  • Measles Vaccine
  • Poliovirus Vaccines
  • Vitamin A