Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
2
Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
3
Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
4
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnourd, Iran.
5
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
6
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
7
Clinical Research Development Unit, Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
8
Clinical Research Development Unit, Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
9
Associate Professor,, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine,, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
Abstract
Background and Aim: In light of conflicting evidence regarding the role of vitamin D in the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that serum vitamin D levels are associated with post-vaccination IgG antibody titers and that this association is modulated by the vaccine platform (inactivated virus vs. viral vector).
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2021, 78 healthcare workers (60.3% female; mean age: 35.2 years) who had received two doses of either the Sinopharm (n=39) or Sputnik V (n=39) vaccine were evaluated. Between 21 and 60 days post-second dose, serum vitamin D levels and IgG antibody titers were measured simultaneously. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and the Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results: IgG antibody titers were significantly higher in the Sputnik V group (mean: 131.6 AU/mL) than in the Sinopharm group (mean: 95.0 AU/mL) (P=0.002). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between vitamin D levels and antibody titers in the total population (r=0.249, P=0.028). Subgroup analysis revealed that this correlation was statistically significant in the Sputnik-V group (r=0.415, P=0.009) and female participants (r=0.301, P=0.040), while it was not significant in the Sinopharm group and male participants.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that higher vitamin D levels are associated with a stronger antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine. However, this effect is dependent on the vaccine platform and the individual's sex. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory mechanisms of vitamin D may interact differently with various vaccine platforms.
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