The effect of standard-dose wintertime vitamin D supplementation on influenza infection in immunized nursing home elderly residents

• Published in: Croatian medical journal Vol. 62; no. 5; pp. 495 - 503
• Main Authors: Godan Hauptman, Ana, Lukić-Grlić, Amarela, Vraneš, Jasmina, Milošević, Milan, Gagro, Alenka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sveuciliste U Zagrebu 01-10-2021; Croatian Medical Schools
• Subjects: Aged patients; Alfacalcidol; Calcifediol; Care and treatment; Dietary supplements; Dosage and administration; Food and nutrition; Health aspects; Influenza; Nursing home patients; Risk factors; Vitamin D; Croatia
• ISSN: 0353-9504; 1332-8166
• DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2021.62.495

Aim To investigate whether three-month oral vitamin D supplementation (800 IU in drops) reduces the risk of influenza infection in elderly nursing home residents vaccinated against influenza. Methods This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 97 participants (73.2% women) who received one dose of seasonal trivalent 2016-2017 influenza vaccine. The patients were randomized into an experimental group, which received vitamin D supplementation for three months starting on the day of vaccination, and a control group, which did not receive vitamin D supplementation. The primary outcome was the number of influenza infections laboratory-confirmed using a rapid point-of-care test based on nasal swabs collected during vitamin D supplementation. The secondary outcome was serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level at the end of the study. Results The mean age [+ or -] standard deviation was 78.5 [+ or -] 8.8 years. All participants had vitamin D deficiency at baseline. Twenty-three participants who developed signs of respiratory infections during the study were tested for influenza virus. Although the number of influenza-positive participants was lower in the group receiving vitamin D supplementation as compared with the control group (5 vs 12), this difference was not significant. Vitamin D supplementation failed to increase 25(OH)D levels after three months of supplementation. Conclusion Elderly nursing home residents in Zagreb County have a significant vitamin D deficiency. The recommended national supplementation of 800 IU daily failed to lead to vitamin D sufficiency and did not reduce the risk of influenza infection among the vaccinated elderly.