Effects of zinc supplementation on the immune system and on antibody response to multivalent influenza vaccine in hemodialysis patients.

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in the context of immune system (general).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Zn supplementation on the immune system and on antibody response to multivalent influenza vaccine (MIV) in hemodialysis patients (HP).

Why It Was Studied

The depression of the immune system in chronic uremia is a well-known phenomenon but the role of serum zinc (Zn) levels on both cell-mediated and humoral immunity is still controversial.

Twenty-six HP and 11 healthy subjects (HS) were vaccinated with MIV.

Who Took Part

The study group was 11 subjects.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized and placebo-controlled study.

The subjects were allocated by chance, so the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group and the comparison group should start out alike.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc could be set against what happens without it.

Group II (13 HP) and Group III (11 HS) were given placebo.

What Was Measured

The depression of the immune system in chronic uremia is a well-known phenomenon but the role of serum zinc (Zn) levels on both cell-mediated and humoral immunity is still controversial.

In all cases, the serum Zn levels, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, HLA-DR+ cell percentages, CD4/CD8 ratio and CD3+ HLA-DR+ cell percentages were determined before and 30 days after vaccination.

The subject headings attached to it are Antibody Formation, Antigens, CD, CD4-CD8 Ratio, Dietary Supplements, HLA-DR Antigens, Immunity, Cellular and Influenza Vaccines.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in 11 subjects in people with immune system (general).

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1998 (The International journal of artificial organs), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, Immune system (general) research.