Frontiers in Pediatrics (Jul 2022)

Nutritional Supplementation to Increase Influenza Vaccine Response in Children Living With HIV: A Pilot Clinical Trial

  • Talía Sainz,
  • Talía Sainz,
  • Talía Sainz,
  • Inmaculada Casas,
  • Inmaculada Casas,
  • Mónica González-Esguevillas,
  • Luis Escosa-Garcia,
  • Luis Escosa-Garcia,
  • Luis Escosa-Garcia,
  • María Ángeles Muñoz-Fernández,
  • María Ángeles Muñoz-Fernández,
  • Luis Prieto,
  • Luis Prieto,
  • Luis Prieto,
  • María José Gosalbes,
  • María José Gosalbes,
  • Nuria Jiménez-Hernández,
  • Nuria Jiménez-Hernández,
  • José Tomas Ramos,
  • José Tomas Ramos,
  • José Tomas Ramos,
  • José Tomas Ramos,
  • María Luisa Navarro,
  • María Luisa Navarro,
  • María Luisa Navarro,
  • María Luisa Navarro,
  • María José Mellado,
  • María José Mellado,
  • María José Mellado,
  • Sergio Serrano-Villar,
  • Sergio Serrano-Villar,
  • Cristina Calvo,
  • Cristina Calvo,
  • Cristina Calvo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.919753
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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AimsVaccine response is poor among children living with HIV. The gut microbiota has been identified as a potential target to improve vaccine immunogenicity, but data are scarce in the context of HIV infection.MethodsPilot, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial in which 24 HIV-infected children were randomized to receive a mixture of symbiotics, omega-3/6 fatty acids, and amino acids or placebo for 4 weeks, each in combination with ART, and were then immunized against influenza. Vaccine response and safety of the nutritional supplementation were the primary outcomes.ResultsEighteen HIV-infected children completed the follow-up period (mean age 11.5 ± 4.14 years, 61% female). The nutritional supplement was safe but did not enhance the response to the influenza vaccine. A 4-fold rise in antibody titers was obtained in only 37.5% of participants in the intervention arm vs. 40% in the placebo. No immunological or inflammatory predictors of vaccine response were identified.ConclusionsIn this exploratory study, a 4-week course of symbiotics did not increase influenza vaccine immunogenicity in HIV-infected children. Larger studies are warranted to address the potential of modulating the microbiome in children living with HIV.

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