Taken together, data from these previous studies in Ecuador suggest that both risk for infections and impaired immune function is associated with deficiencies of critical vitamins and minerals in Ecuadorian older people. Although it is important to be cautious to conclude on these studies due to their cross-sectional design, it seems to be necessary to evaluate a nutritional intervention intended to provide those micronutrients found to be deficient to improve the immune and health status of elderly Ecuadorians. This approach is different from that of the previous trials carried out in developed countries which had not evaluated the micronutrient status of the target population before the enrolment and, in consequence, had not defined a MVM formula aimed to correct specific deficiencies. Moreover, the micronutrients deficiencies found in Ecuadorian older subjects appear to affect largely higher percent of subjects and include more micronutrients than those found at enrolment in subjects included in studies carried out in developed countries. Therefore,the hypothesis is that provision of MVM supplements to poor Ecuadorian subjects aimed to correct their specific micronutrients deficiencies may prove beneficial to reduce the incidence of respiratory infections via improvement of their immune response assessed by DTH test, and decreased CRP concentration as proxy of the down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide produced by neutrophils, seems to be increased by vitamin D status [14], the measure of this peptide in supernatants of cultured cells from the upper respiratory mucosa will be included. Thus, DTH and cathelicidin would provide an assessment of both innate and adaptive immunity. This study will be the first to be undertaken in an aging population of a developing country.