Effect of daily vitamin E and multivitamin-mineral supplementation on acute respiratory tract infections in elderly persons: a randomized controlled trial.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in community-dwelling, well-nourished men and women aged 60 years or older in the Wageningen area of the Netherlands. Active-arm sample sizes were 163 for multivitamin-mineral, 164 for vitamin E, and 172 for multivitamin-mineral plus vitamin E.

In a 2×2 factorial design, participants received oral multivitamin-mineral capsules at near-RDA physiological levels, 200 mg/day vitamin E as alpha-tocopheryl acetate, both supplements together, or placebo. The active supplementation period lasted up to about 15 months.

Neither daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation at near-RDA levels nor 200 mg/day vitamin E reduced the incidence or severity of acute respiratory tract infections in this well-nourished older population. Among participants who became infected, vitamin E was associated with worse illness severity, including longer illness duration, more symptoms, higher fever, and more restriction of activity. The trial therefore did not support vitamin E or multivitamin-mineral supplementation for preventing respiratory infections in these elderly community-dwelling adults.

The population was relatively healthy and well nourished, so the findings may not generalize to deficient, frailer, or institutionalized older adults. The study evaluated only near-RDA multivitamin-mineral dosing and 200 mg/day vitamin E over about 15 months, limiting inference about other formulations, doses, or longer-term use.