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. 2022 Sep;21(4):32–52.

Table S1.

Micronutrient Modulation of Vaccine Efficacy

Dosage Timing (before/after vaccination) Control Population Vaccine Type Outcome Citation
Vitamin A n/a n/a n/a 65+ years, n=205. Not considered vitamin A deficient TIV No association between vitamin A status and vaccine responsea Sundaram et al12
Vitamin D 100000 IU every 15 days 3 months prior to vaccination Placebo supplementation, not specified 65+ years, n=38, serum 25-(OH)D<30 ng/mL TIV No improvement in antibody response. Significant negative response for H3N2b Goncalves-Mendes et al14
Vitamin D n/a n/a n/a Mean age 64 years.
n=200 patients with CKD
Hepatitis B <10 ng/mL 25-(OH)D associated with reduced seroconversion and seroprotectionb Zitt et al15
Vitamin E 60, 200, or 800 mg/day all racalpha-tocopherol in soybean oil 5 months prior to vaccination Soybean oil only 65+ years; serum vitamin E < 27.9 μmol/L
n=89
Hepatitis B Diphtheria Vitamin E group showed greater delayed-type hypersensitivity response to Hep B vaccine. 200 mg/d group had greater antibody response to Hep B vaccineb No difference in response to diphtheria vaccine No change in T cell or B cell level Meydani et al19
Vitamin E n/a n/a n/a 65+ years; not considered vitamin E deficient
n=205
TIV No association between vitamin E status and vaccine responsea Sundaram et al12
Vitamin E 200 or 400 mg/day 1 month prior to and 5 months after vaccination Placebo identified as “0 mg vitamin E” 24-104 years; patients of a chronic care facility
n=103
TIV No improvement in vaccine response in whole population or in those older than 69a Harman et al20
Zinc 400 mg/day zinc sulfate, or 400 mg/day zinc sulfate plus 4 g/day arginine 15 days prior to vaccination Vaccine only 64-100 years; mean age 82
n=384
TIV No improvement in vaccine responsea Provinciali et al23
Zinc n/a n/a n/a 65+ years; 20 percent had low serum zinc <70 μg/dL
n=205.
TIV No association between zinc status and vaccine responsea Sundaram et al12
Zinc 220 mg zinc sulfate BID 440mg total daily dose 1 month prior to vaccination Vaccine only 70+ years
n=30
Tetanus Significant improvement in antibody response to vaccineb Duchateau et al24
Zinc n/a n/a Two control groups - one was young blood donors <30 years, the other age-matched elderly individuals >70 years Mean age 65;
n=16 (intervention),
n=21 (controls >70),
n=20 (controls <30)
Diphtheria Non-responders to vaccine had significantly decreased serum zinc levelsb Kreft et al25
Zinc 70 mg/day zinc sulfate alongside chemotherapy 16 weeks after vaccination Control-placebo, control-Zn, and chemo-placebo groups. Control group consisted of non-cancer patients. Placebo was wheat starch capsules. Mean age 63; undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer (chemo-Zn group)
n=57
Pneumococcal Non-significant trend towards better seroconversion in the chemo-Zn group and protected against antibody decline during chemotherapya Braga et al26
Combination Micronutrients Either (1) 20 mg zinc and 100 μg selenium daily; (2) 6 mg beta carotene (vitamin A precursor), 15 mg alpha tocopherol (vitamin E), 120 mg vitamin C daily; or (3) supplements from (1) and (2) combined daily. 2 years, with vaccination at 15-17 months Calcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose 65+ years
n=725
TIV Significantly improved serological protection in groups (1) and (3) compared to control. Group (2) achieved significantly lower seroprotection, though nonsignificantly lower incidence of respiratory infection, compared to controlb Girodon et al27
Combination Micronutrients Multivitamin and mineral with 30-160% US RDA plus antioxidants and 250 kcal energy (14% protein, 40% fat, 46% carbohydrate) dosed BID 7 months, with vaccination at 6 months Noncaloric placebo drink (ingredients not specified) 65+ years; mean age 84
n=19
TIV Significantly improved serological protection for H3N2 but not other strainsb Bunout et al29
Combination with Micronutrients Nutritional formula that included 120 IU vitamin E, 3.8 mcg vitamin B12, 400 mcg folic acid, 10 bn CFU Lactobacillus paracasei (NCC 2461), 6 g fructo- oligosaccharide prebiotics and 480 kcal energy (25% protein, 23% fat, 51% carbohydrate) daily 12 months, with vaccination after 4 months No nutritional supplementation 70+ years
n=60
TIV and pneumococcal No improvement in vaccine responsea Bunout et al29
Combination with Micronutrients 8 oz liquid multivitamin and mineral plus beta-carotene, taurine, carnitine, omega- 3 fatty acids, medium chain triglycerides and fermentable oligosaccharides (prebiotics) daily 183 days with vaccination on day 15 ± 2 8 oz of an isonitrogenous/isoenergetic standard liquid nutritional formula (brand unspecified) 77% maltodextrin 23% sucrose 65+ years, mean age 82-84
n=66
TIV Significantly improved serological protection for H3N2 but not other strainsb Langkamp-Henken et al30
Combination with Micronutrients 240 mL liquid multivitamin and mineral plus beta-carotene, taurine, carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids, medium chain triglycerides and fermentable oligosaccharides (prebiotics) daily 4 weeks prior to, and 6 weeks after vaccination 240mL of an isonitrogenous/isoenergetic standard liquid nutritional formula (brand: EnsurePlus, Abbott Laboratories) 0% FOS 77% maltodextrin 65+ years; mean age 81-85.
n=92
TIV Significantly improved serological protection for H1N1 but not other strainsb Langkamp-Henken et al31

aNo significant effect on/association with vaccine response

bSignificant effect on/association with vaccine response for at least one vaccine strain/subgroup