Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population
Background/Objectives: Although the protective effects of zinc against COVID-19 are documented, its impact on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective study involving a cohort of 79 Japanese individuals (aged 21–56 years; comprising three subcohorts) and m...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Mohammad Said Ashenagar Megumi Hara Gouki Yamada Mikiko Tokiya Akiko Matsumoto |
| author_facet | Mohammad Said Ashenagar Megumi Hara Gouki Yamada Mikiko Tokiya Akiko Matsumoto |
| author_sort | Mohammad Said Ashenagar |
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| description | Background/Objectives: Although the protective effects of zinc against COVID-19 are documented, its impact on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective study involving a cohort of 79 Japanese individuals (aged 21–56 years; comprising three subcohorts) and measured their serum zinc levels pre-vaccination and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG levels pre- and post-vaccination over 4 months. Results: Serum zinc concentrations ranged between 74–140 and 64–113 μg/dL in male and female individuals, respectively, with one male and 11 female participants exhibiting subclinical zinc deficiency (60–80 μg/dL). Mixed models for antibody titers, accounting for the subcohorts, repeat measurements, and covariates (e.g., vaccine type, sex, age, height, steroid use, medical history, smoking and drinking habits, perceived stress, and sleep disturbances) showed positive effects of zinc on IgM (<i>p</i> = 0.012) and IgG (<i>p</i> = 0.013) in 45 female individuals with 255 observations. However, a similar association was not found in the 34 male participants with 162 observations. This discrepancy may be attributed to one participant being included in the subcohort with frequent repeat measurements (10 repeats in 4 months). COVID-19 mRNA vaccine immunogenicity was enhanced in the participants with high baseline blood zinc levels within the reference range. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the relevance of maintaining adequate zinc levels before vaccination, which can be achieved through a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle choices. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8633d4007d494c148bd89d4fdc88c6062025-08-20T02:50:44ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-11-011212135910.3390/vaccines12121359Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese PopulationMohammad Said Ashenagar0Megumi Hara1Gouki Yamada2Mikiko Tokiya3Akiko Matsumoto4Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanThe United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, JapanDepartment of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanDepartment of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanBackground/Objectives: Although the protective effects of zinc against COVID-19 are documented, its impact on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective study involving a cohort of 79 Japanese individuals (aged 21–56 years; comprising three subcohorts) and measured their serum zinc levels pre-vaccination and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG levels pre- and post-vaccination over 4 months. Results: Serum zinc concentrations ranged between 74–140 and 64–113 μg/dL in male and female individuals, respectively, with one male and 11 female participants exhibiting subclinical zinc deficiency (60–80 μg/dL). Mixed models for antibody titers, accounting for the subcohorts, repeat measurements, and covariates (e.g., vaccine type, sex, age, height, steroid use, medical history, smoking and drinking habits, perceived stress, and sleep disturbances) showed positive effects of zinc on IgM (<i>p</i> = 0.012) and IgG (<i>p</i> = 0.013) in 45 female individuals with 255 observations. However, a similar association was not found in the 34 male participants with 162 observations. This discrepancy may be attributed to one participant being included in the subcohort with frequent repeat measurements (10 repeats in 4 months). COVID-19 mRNA vaccine immunogenicity was enhanced in the participants with high baseline blood zinc levels within the reference range. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the relevance of maintaining adequate zinc levels before vaccination, which can be achieved through a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle choices.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1359humoral immune responseimmunogenicitySARS-CoV-2vaccinationzinc |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Said Ashenagar Megumi Hara Gouki Yamada Mikiko Tokiya Akiko Matsumoto Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population Vaccines humoral immune response immunogenicity SARS-CoV-2 vaccination zinc |
| title | Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population |
| title_full | Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population |
| title_short | Effects of Baseline Blood Zinc Levels on the Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: A Prospective Study in a Japanese Population |
| title_sort | effects of baseline blood zinc levels on the humoral immune response after covid 19 mrna vaccination a prospective study in a japanese population |
| topic | humoral immune response immunogenicity SARS-CoV-2 vaccination zinc |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1359 |
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