Zinc and immunocompetence in elderly people: effects of zinc supplementation for 3 months

Am J Clin Nutr. 1988 Sep;48(3):655-63. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/48.3.655.

Abstract

One hundred and three apparently healthy elderly subjects age 60-89 y were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: placebo, 15 mg zinc/d, or 100 mg Zn/d for 3 mo. Plasma Zn was significantly increased only in the 100 mg Zn group. Zn concentrations in erythrocytes, platelets, mononuclear cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were not significantly increased by any treatment. None of the treatments significantly altered delayed dermal hypersensitivity (DDH) to a panel of seven recall antigens or in vitro lymphocyte proliferative responses (LPR) to mitogens and antigens. Fifteen subjects had initially poor lymphocyte proliferative responses that improved in 14 of these individuals during the study; this was not due to Zn supplementation but might have been caused by one or more components of a vitamin-mineral supplement administered to all study subjects.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Copper / blood
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed
  • Immunity / drug effects*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Regression Analysis
  • Zinc / administration & dosage*
  • Zinc / blood
  • Zinc / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Mitogens
  • Copper
  • Cholesterol
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Zinc