The results of two clin. studies designed to test the adjuvant activity of DHEAS in humans are presented.Volunteers were vaccinated in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled manner.In one study, DHEAS was given to test its ability to improve tetanus toxoid vaccination (a potential recall response in elderly volunteers).The other study compared DHEAS administration as an adjuvant using trivalent influenza vaccine (a potential primary response in elderly volunteers).The use of DHEAS in the immunization of elderly subjects against tetanus toxoid, while unable to enhance the response, was not detrimental to antibody response.However, results show that the number of individuals who can generate primary responses to new antigens is markedly higher when vaccines are administered in combination with DHEAS.
