DAILY MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS ENHANCE DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY SKIN-TEST RESPONSES IN OLDER-PEOPLE

A placebo-controlled double-blind trial of the effects of daily micron utrient supplements on circulating vitamin and trace metal concentrati ons and delayed-hypersensitivity skin test (DHST) responses was conduc ted. Subjects, aged 59-85 y, were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 27 ) or micronutrient (n = 29) treatment groups. DHST and circulating con centrations of nine micronutrients were measured before and after 6 an d 12 mo of micronutrient ingestion. For the micronutrient group, there were statistically significant increases at 6 and/or 12 mo in the mea n serum concentrations of ascorbate, beta-carotene, folate, vitamin B- 6, and alpha-tocopherol. There was a significant increase at 12 mo in the number of subjects in the placebo group with one or more low conce ntrations. DHST responses to a panel of seven recall antigens were sig nificantly increased at 12 mo in the micronutrient group but not the p lacebo group. This study demonstrates that daily supplementation with low-to-moderate doses of micronutrients can prevent low concentrations of some micronutrients and can improve DHST responses in healthy, ind ependently living older adults.