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Efficient tetanus toxoid immunization on vitamin D supplementation

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 329–334 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Vitamin D mediates immunomodulatory functions, and its deficiency has been associated with an increased prevalence of immunological diseases. The supplementation of vitamin D might be therapeutically beneficial, for example, in lupus erythematosus patients. However, its affect on established recall immune responses is undefined.

Subjects/Methods:

In all, 32 individuals were randomized in a placebo controlled, double-blind setting, and received vitamin D (daily 2000 IU) for 10 weeks followed by tetanus toxoid (TT) booster immunization.

Results:

During vitamin D supplementation the median 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentration increased to 80.3 nM, which as expected decreased in the placebo group to 29.1 nM during the ultraviolet-deprived winter months. The TT-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) boost efficiency was marginal higher in the vitamin D group (P=0.04). The increase of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels correlated with the increase of TT–IgG serum concentrations. The induction of specific serum IgA and specific antibody secreting cells was comparable between both groups. Accordingly, the TT-specific and polyclonally triggered T-cell cytokine profiles were stable as well.

Conclusions:

Vitamin D supplementation was successful and booster immunization induced efficiently specific antibodies titers.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Helmut Orawa and Ramona Scheuffele (both Institut für Biometrie und klinische Epidemiologie, Charité Campus Mitte) for statistical assistance and Dennis Ernst for outstanding technical assistance. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG–SFB650/TP5 and TP16) and by the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin. GH and GD were supported by the DFG–SFB650 TP5 and HM by the DFG–SFB650/TP16.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, CCM, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    G Heine, G Drozdenko, A Lahl & M Worm

  2. Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    N Unterwalder & H-D Volk

  3. Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Germany

    G Heine, H Mei, T Dörner & A Radbruch

  4. Klinik für Innere Medizin m.S. Rheumatologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    H Mei & T Dörner

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  1. G Heine
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  2. G Drozdenko
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  3. A Lahl
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  4. N Unterwalder
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  7. T Dörner
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  9. M Worm
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Correspondence to M Worm.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website

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Heine, G., Drozdenko, G., Lahl, A. et al. Efficient tetanus toxoid immunization on vitamin D supplementation. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 329–334 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.276

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.276

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