The Antibody Response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Booster in Healthcare Workers: Association between the IgG Antibody Titers and Anthropometric and Body Composition Parameters

Abstract

Background: Research shows that in most people, two-dose vaccination helps to shape the humoral response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Further studies are required to learn about the vaccine’s effectiveness after boosting. Methods: We conducted a prospective study among 103 healthcare workers (HCWs) from a regional multi-specialty hospital vaccinated with three doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine. We compared their immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers 14 days after the second dose with those 21 days after the booster. We also compared their anthropometric and body composition parameters with IgG concentrations at the same time points. Results: Twenty-one days after the booster, all study participants were seropositive. Their mean IgG antibody titers were significantly lower than 14 days after the second dose (158.94 AU/mL ± 90.34 AU/mL vs. 505.79 AU/mL ± 367.16 AU/mL). Post-booster Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a significantly weak correlation between the IgG antibody titer and parameters related to muscle tissue and adipose tissue (including body fat mass). Conclusions: The BNT162b2 booster stimulates the humoral response to a lesser extent than the two-dose BNT162b2 primary vaccination. The adipose and muscle tissue parameters show a weak positive correlation with the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers.

Relationship between anthropometric and body composition parameters and anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG titers in females vaccinated against COVID-19 according to the heterologous vaccination course: A cohort study

“…The abovementioned outcomes correspond with results from our previous research, in which we investigated a humoral response in healthcare workers primed and boosted with the BNT vaccine [ 38 , 39 ]. Although our study groups consisted of males and females, they were highly feminized, which allowed us to compare the results.…”

“…Decreased body fat mass, in turn, was positively associated with the durability of humoral response after primary vaccination: subjects with decreased BFM maintained higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers eight months after the primary vaccination course than individuals with increased BFM [ 38 ]. However, the follow-up performed 21 days after administration of the BNT booster in this group revealed a weak positive correlation between both BFM, PMM, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers [ 39 ].…”

“…Moreover, many studies are based on a range of 14–35 days after vaccination or contracting COVID-19 [ 36 , 37 ]. Finally, in our previous studies, assessing the humoral response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among healthcare workers, the blood draws were performed between 14–21 days after the administration of vaccine doses [ 38 , 39 ]. By adopting similar time intervals of blood sampling, it was possible to compare the results of the herein work with other studies.…”