It is still not clear how effective multivitamins and mineral supplements are in reducing infections in elderly people. A systematic review by El-Kadiki and Sutton (p 871) included eight randomised controlled trials with different outcome measures, and pooling of the compatible results gave conflicting answers. Although a meta-analysis of some trials showed a significant reduction in the mean annual number of days spent with infection, meta-analyses of other trials showed no difference for at least one infection in the study period or for the infection rate ratio. Adverse events were poorly reported in all trials.
Figure 1.
Credit: LAWRENCE LAWRY/SPL