Nutritional supplements and infection in the elderly: Why do the findings conflict?

Nutrition Journal

Volumn 5, Issue 1, 2006, Pages

  Sternberg, Saul ^a   Roberts, Seth ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

MINERAL; MULTIVITAMIN; PLACEBO;

AGED; ARTICLE; CONTROLLED STUDY; GERIATRIC DISORDER; HUMAN; INFECTION; INFECTION PREVENTION; NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; STATISTICAL ANALYSIS; VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION;

AGED; BIAS (EPIDEMIOLOGY); DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS; HUMANS; INFECTION CONTROL; MINERALS; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC; RESEARCH DESIGN; VITAMINS;

EID: 33845441115     PISSN: None     EISSN: 14752891     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-5-30     Document Type: Article

References (27)

1. Radimer K, Bindewald B, Hughes J, Ervin B, Swanson C, Picciano MF: Dietary supplement use by US Adults: Data from the national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2000. Am J Epidemiol 2004, 160:339-349.
2. Millen AE, Dodd KW, Subar AF: Use of vitamin, mineral, nonvitamin, and nonmineral supplements in the United States: the 1987, 1992, and 2000 national health interview survey results. J Am Diet Assoc 2004, 104:942-950.
3. El-Kadiki A, Sutton AJ: Role of multivitamins and mineral supplements in preventing infections in elderly people: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2005, 330:871-876.
4. Avenell A, Campbell MK, Cook JA, Hannaford PC, Kilonzo MM, McNeill G, Milne AC, Ramsay CR, Seymour DG, Stephen AI, Vale LD: Effect of multivitamin and multimineral supplements on morbidity from infections in older people (MAVIS trial): pragmatic, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial. BMJ 2005, 331:324-329.
5. Chandra RK: Effect of vitamin and trace-element supplementation on immune responses and infection in elderly subjects. Lancet 1992, 340:1124-7.
6. Chandra RK: Influence of multinutrient supplement on immune responses and infection-related illness in 50-65 year old individuals. Nutr Res 2002, 22:5-11.
7. Jain AL: Influence of vitamins and trace-elements on the incidence of respiratory infection in the elderly. Nutr Res 2002, 22:85-87.
8. Chandra RK: Effect of vitamin and trace-element supplementation on cognitive function in elderly subjects. Nutrition 2001, 17:709-712.
9. Brody JE: Nutrition a key to better health for elderly. New York Times . August 21, 2001
10. White C: Three journals raise doubts on validity of Canadian studies. BMJ 2004, 328:67. Corrections in BMJ 2004;328:257
11. Chandra RK: Graying of the immune system. Can nutrient supplements improve immunity in the elderly? JAMA 1997, 277:1398-9.
12. Shenkin SD, Whiteman MC, Alison P, Deary IJ: Supplementation and the elderly: dramatic results? Nutrition 2002, 18:364.
13. Carpenter KC, Roberts S, Sternberg S: Nutrition and immune function: a 1992 report. Lancet 2003, 361:2247.
14. Meguid MM, Shenkin A: Introduction: Nutritional supplements and the quest to improve human performance - the need for the strictest standards and rigor when reporting clinical trials. Nutrition 2003, 19:955-956.
15. Roberts S, Sternberg S: Do nutritional supplements improve cognitive function in the elderly? Nutrition 2003, 19:976-978.
16. Shenkin SD, Whiteman MC, Alison P, Deary IJ: Continued concern about nutritional supplements and cognitive function in the elderly. Nutrition 2004, 20:336.
17. Meguid MM: Retraction. Nutrition 2005, 21:286.
18. Ekberg-Jansson A, Larson M, MacNee W, Tunek A, Wahlgren L, Wouters EF, Larsson S: N-isobutyrylcysteine, a donor of systemic thiols, does not reduce the exacerbation rate in chronic bronchitis. Eur Respir J 1999, 13:829-34.
19. British Thoracic Society Research Committee: Oral N-acetylcysteine and exacerbation rates in patients with chronic bronchitis and severe airways obstruction. Thorax 1985, 40:832-5.
20. Olivieri D, Zavattini G, Tomasini G, Daniotti S, Bonsignore G, Ferrara G, Carnimeo N, Chianese R, Catena E, Marcatili S, Del Donno M, Grassi C, Pozzi E, Grassi V, Tantucci C, Lucchesi M, Schimid G, Marchioni CF, Penitenti S, Mistretta A, Crimi N, Casali L, Cabiddu R, Donner C, Patessio A, Massei V, Sanguinetti CM, Orlandi O, Bruna S, Serra C, Giacopelli A: Ambroxol for the prevention of chronic bronchitis exacerbations: long-term multicenter trial. Protective effect of ambroxol against winter semester exacerbations: a double-blind study versus placebo. Respiration 1987, 51:42-51.
21. Pela R, Calcagni AM, Subiaco S, Isidori P, Tubaldi A, Sanguinetti CM: N-acetylcysteine reduces the exacerbation rate in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Respiration 1999, 66:495-500.
22. Langkamp-Henken B, Bender BS, Gardner EM, Herrlinger-Garcia KA, Kelley MJ, Murasko DM, Schaller JP, Stechmiller JK, Thomas DJ, Wood SM: Nutritional formula enhanced immune function and reduced days of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in seniors. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004, 52:3-12.
23. Evans S: Statistical aspects of the detection of fraud. In Fraud and misconduct in medical research 3rd edition. Edited by: Lock S, Wells F, Farthing M. London: BMJ Publishing Group; 2001:186-204.
24. Al-Marzouki S, Evans S, Marshall T, Roberts I: Are these data real? Statistical methods for the detection of data fabrication in clinical trials. BMJ 2005, 331:267-270.
25. Chandra RK: Author's reply. Lancet 2003, 361:2247-8.
26. El-Kadiki A, Sutton AJ: Correction. BMJ 2005, 331:142.
27. Cochran WC: Approximate significance levels of the Behrens-Fisher test. Biometrics 1964, 20:191-195.