Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Effects of neonatal Vitamin A supplementation on response to vaccinations in early infancy
Charles B Stephensen1, M Nazmul Huda2, Md J Alam3
1USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center at University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Nutrition Department, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Insights
Neonatal Vitamin A (VA) supplementation improved delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to BCG vaccine in infants. However, VA did not impact antibody responses to other vaccines but did affect T-cell function, with some sex-specific effects observed.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is known to impair immune function.
- Understanding the impact of early-life VA supplementation on infant immunity is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of a single high dose of Vitamin A (VA) given at birth on infant immune responses to multiple vaccines.
- To investigate potential interactions between VA intervention, infant sex, and birthweight median (BWM).
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 306 infants in Bangladesh.
- Infants received 50,000 IU VA or placebo within 48 hours of birth.
- Immune responses, including delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), antibody levels, T-cell proliferation, and cytokine production, were measured post-vaccination.
Main Results:
- VA supplementation enhanced DTH responses to Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) in infants above the birthweight median.
- No significant effect of VA was observed on antibody responses to oral polio virus (OPV), Tetanus Toxoid (TT), or Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines.
- VA modulated CD4 T-cell responses and cytokine production (e.g., IL-2, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17, IL-10), with some sex-specific differences.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal VA supplementation modestly improved DTH response to BCG but did not influence antibody responses to OPV, TT, and HBV vaccines.
- Vitamin A administration affected CD4 T-cell function, with observed sex-specific effects.
- These findings highlight the complex interplay between neonatal nutrition and vaccine-induced immunity.
Background:
Vitamin A (VA) deficiency impairs immune function.
Study Design:
A randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial, stratified by sex and birthweight median (BWM), was conducted in 306 infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh to evaluate the effect of 50,000 IU VA given within 48 h of birth on responses to Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG), oral polio virus (OPV), Tetanus Toxoid (TT) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines.
Methods:
VA, BCG and OPV were administered within 48 h of birth. OPV was again administered at 6, 10 and 14 w with TT and HBV. Vaccine-specific responses included delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) at 15 w for BCG and antibody responses at 15 w (ex vivo PBMC secretion) and 2 y for OPV (IgA, IgG), TT (IgG) and HBV (IgG). T-cell proliferation and cytokine production (IFN-γ, IL-2, -4, -5, -10, -13 and -17A) in response to vaccine antigens and a polyclonal stimulus (staphylococcus enterotoxin B [SEB]) were measured at 6 w, 15 w and 2 y. Statistical analysis determined main effects of the intervention, and interactions with sex and birthweight.
Results:
VA increased the DTH response in infants above the BWM but did not affect antibody responses to vaccines. The CD4 T-cell stimulation index (SI) was reduced by VA for BCG (6 w) and SEB (overall). VA increased TT- and HBV-specific IL-2 and IL-5 at 15 w and increased SEB-stimulated IL-5 in girls but decreased IL-5 in boys at 15 w. VA increased BCG-specific IL-13 and SEB-stimulated IL-5 in girls. VA decreased TT-specific and SEB-stimulated IL-17 in boys and decreased IL-10 in response to BCG, HBV (below BWM only) and SEB at 15 w.
Conclusions:
Neonatal VA modestly improved the DTH response to BCG but had no effect on antibody responses to OPV, TT and HBV. VA affected CD4 T-cell function, at times in a sex-specific manner.
Trial Registry:
This trial is registered at Clinical.
Trials:
gov. Registry numbers are NCT015839720 and NCT02027610.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:21Vaccines
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:30Vitamins