Related Experiment Videos
Reduced seroconversion to measles in infants given vitamin A with measles vaccination
R D Semba1, Z Munasir, J Beeler
1Department of Ophthalmology, International Health, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Insights
High-dose vitamin A given with measles vaccines may reduce infants' immune response. This study found vitamin A supplementation was associated with a lower likelihood of seroconversion to measles in infants.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vitamin A supplementation is recommended with measles immunization in developing countries.
- The impact of vitamin A, an immune enhancer, on live measles vaccines is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of simultaneous vitamin A supplementation on the immune response to measles vaccination in infants.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of co-administering vitamin A with measles vaccines.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Indonesia.
- 336 infants received either 100,000 IU of vitamin A or a placebo during measles immunization at six months of age.
- Immune response was measured by measles seroconversion rates.
Main Results:
- 82% of infants achieved measles seroconversion.
- Vitamin A supplementation was linked to a reduced likelihood of seroconversion (OR 0.40).
- Girls showed a lower seroconversion rate compared to boys (OR 0.34).
Conclusions:
- Simultaneous high-dose vitamin A may potentially interfere with infant immune response to live measles vaccines.
- Maternal antibody levels may influence the interaction between vitamin A and measles vaccine efficacy.
- Further research is needed to clarify optimal vitamin A dosing strategies alongside measles immunization.
Abstract:
Administration of 100,000 IU vitamin A at the time of measles immunisation is currently recommended for infants in developing countries. However, the safety and value of giving vitamin A, a potent immune enhancer, with live measles virus vaccines are unknown. We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Indonesia to evaluate the effect of simultaneous vitamin A supplementation on the immune response to measles immunisation at six months of age. 336 infants received either vitamin A (100,000 IU) or placebo when immunised with standard-titre Schwarz measles vaccine. 82% of infants seroconverted to measles. In a multiple logistic regression model adjusting for maternal antibody titres, vitamin A supplementation was associated with a lower likelihood of seroconversion to measles (odds ratio 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.88), and girls were less likely to seroconvert than boys (0.34, 0.15-0.76). Immunisation with standard-titre Schwarz vaccine at six months of age in this study population is characterised by high seroconversion rates. However, simultaneous high-dose vitamin A may interfere with seroconversion to live measles vaccine in infants with maternal antibody.