Impact of Vitamin A Supplementation on the Incidence of Infection in Elderly Nursing-home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if vitamin A supplementation reduces the incidence of bacterial infections among elderly nursing-home residents. One hundred and nine patients were enrolled into a double-masked, placebo-controlled trial at an academically affiliated nursing home. Fifty-six patients received a single capsule containing 1,000 IU of vitamin A (placebo) and 53 received a single capsule containing 200,000 IU of vitamin A. Antibiotic-treated infections were enumerated for 90 days after dosing and infection rates were expressed per 1000 days of follow-up. There were 42 antibiotic-treated infections altogether, 21 in each group. The infection rates in the vitamin A and placebo groups were 4.7 and 4.3 per 1,000 days of follow-up, respectively (relative risk 1.1; 95% CI 0.6, 2.0). The findings of this study do not support a role for vitamin A supplements for the prevention of infections among frail elderly nursing-home patients.

What is the Quality of the Reporting of Research Ethics in Publications of Nursing Home Research?

“…Thirtyseven publications were excluded for the following reasons: subjects not residents of nursing home (n = 8), publication not a research publication (n = 1), and trial occurred outside the United States (n = 28). The 45 publications in the final sample came from 21 journals 12–56 . These publications reported the following kinds of research: drug intervention 27% (12/45), care intervention 22% (10/45), device intervention 16% (7/45), physical or occupational therapy intervention 13% (6/45), assessment instrument 11% (5/45), patient or staff education 4% (2/45), behavior intervention 2% (1/45), diet intervention 2% (1/45), and electrolyte measurement 2% (1/45).…”

The Effect of Zinc and Vitamin A Supplementation on Immune Response in an Older Population

“…A study conducted by Murphy et al 29 showed no effect on the rates of infection in an older group given supplements of vitamin A. Therefore, it may be possible that vitamin A supplementation will benefit only vitamin A‐deficient children 26 …”

SHEA/APIC Guideline: Infection prevention and control in the long-term care facility

“…Clinical trials in LTCFs have reported no decrease in infections with routine vitamin or mineral supplementation. 225,226 However, optimal care of comorbid illnesses and good nutrition are principles of care irrespective of impact on infections.…”