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 1000 IU of vitamin A (placebo) and 53 received a single capsule containing 200000 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 1000 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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 435-439 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Age and ageing |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Geriatrics and Gerontology