Abstract

Enhancing vaccine response through optimized iron supplementation regimens

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major public health problem worldwide, especially in young women. Oral iron supplementation can be an effective strategy to treat and prevent IDA, but guidelines vary. Recent studies using stable iron isotopes have led to optimized supplementation regimens to increase absorption and efficacy and reduce side effects. Correction of iron deficiency may have benefits on adaptive immunity. In mouse and piglet models, low serum iron severely impairs effector and memory responses to immunizations. In Kenyan infants, anemia and iron deficiency at time of vaccination predict decreased response to diphtheria, pertussis and pneumococcal vaccines. Primary response to measles vaccine may be increased by iron supplementation at time of vaccination. These findings argue that correction of iron deficiency with optimized iron supplementation regimens may improve adaptive immunity and vaccine response.