Journal article
Long-term sex-differential effects of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on in vitro cytokine responses
High-dose vitamin A supplementation (VAS) may affect mortality to infectious diseases in a sex-differential manner. Here, we analysed the long-term immunological effects of neonatal vitamin A supplementation (NVAS) in 247 children, who had been randomly allocated to 50 000 or 25 000 IU vitamin A (15 mg and 7·5 mg retinol equivalents, respectively) or placebo at birth.
At 4-6 months of age, we assessed bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scarification, and we analysed in vitro responses of TNF-α, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 and IFN-γ in whole blood stimulations to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), purified protein derivative (PPD), tetanus toxoid and lipopolysaccharide. There were no differences between the two doses of NVAS, and thus they were analysed combined as NVAS (any dose) v. placebo.
All analyses were performed unstratified and by sex. NVAS increased the chance of having a scar after BCG vaccination in females (NVAS v. placebo: 96 v. 71 %, proportion ratio: 1·24; 95 % CI 1·09, 1·42), but not in males (Pfor interaction=0·012). NVAS was associated with significant sex-differential effects on the pro- to anti-inflammatory cytokine ratios (TNF-α:IL-10) to PPD, tetanus toxoid and medium alone, which were increased in females but decreased in males.
In addition, IL-17 responses tended to be increased in NVAS v. placebo recipients in males but not in females, significantly so for the PHA stimulation. The study corroborates sex-differential effects of VAS on the immune system, emphasising the importance of analysing VAS effects by sex.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Year: | 2017 |
Pages: | 942-948 |
ISSN: | 14752662 and 00071145 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1017/S0007114517002938 |
ORCIDs: | Jensen, Kristoffer Jarlov and 0000-0001-6551-6647 |
Cytokines Heterologous immunity Infants SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being Sex differences Vitamin A supplementation
BCG Vaccine BCG bacille Calmette–Guérin Cicatrix DTP diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis vaccine Dietary Supplements Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Female GMR geometric:mean ratio Humans Immune System Infant Journal Article MV measles vaccine Male NVAS neonatal vitamin A supplementation PPD purified protein derivative from Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phytohemagglutinins RCT randomised controlled trial Sex Factors Tetanus Toxoid VAS vitamin A supplementation Vaccination Vitamin A