Update in Infectious Diseases

Common Infections

A Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement Reduced Infection and Absenteeism in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Although about 20% of U.S. adults take a combination multivitamin and mineral supplement daily, the health benefits are largely unknown. Supplements may improve the immunologic defects associated with micronutrient malnutrition. To learn more, the investigators in this randomized, double-blind trial divided 130 community-based adults by age (45 to 64 years or ≥65 years) and presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and assigned them randomly to receive a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement or placebo. The primary end point was the incidence of participant-reported infection.

After 1 year, 43% of the participants receiving the supplement reported infectious illness compared with 73% of the participants receiving placebo (P < 0.001). Most of the reported infections were upper respiratory tract infections. Infection-related absenteeism from work was also lower in the supplement group (21% vs. 57%; P < 0.001).

Most of the treatment benefit occurred in the one third of study participants (n = 51) who had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Seventeen percent of persons with diabetes who were treated with supplements reported infections compared with 93% of diabetic persons who received placebo (P < 0.001). Absenteeism occurred in 0% of diabetic persons who received supplements and 89% of diabetic persons who received placebo. The supplements had no effect on quality of life, as assessed by physical or mental health scores, or on energy level.

In summary, these surprising and important findings showed that a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement dramatically reduced the frequency of infection-related illness and absenteeism in adults with type 2 diabetes who were older than 45 years of age. It will be important to evaluate the value of supplements in other groups with …