Influence of nutritional supplements on antibody levels in pregnant women vaccinated with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

PLoS One. 2024 Mar 7;19(3):e0289255. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289255. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Background: Because of the significantly higher demand for nutrients during pregnancy, pregnant women are more likely to have nutrient deficiencies, which may adversely affect maternal and fetal health. The influence of nutritional supplements on the immune effects of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines during pregnancy is not clear.

Methods: In a multicenter cross-sectional study, we enrolled 873 pregnant women aged 18-45 y in Guangdong, China. The general demographic characteristics of pregnant women and their use of nutritional supplements were investigated, and the serum antibody levels induced by inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were measured. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between nutritional supplements and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels.

Results: Of the 873 pregnant women enrolled, 825 (94.5%) took folic acid during pregnancy, 165 (18.9%) took iron supplements, and 197 (22.6%) took DHA. All pregnant women received at least one dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and the positive rates of serum SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were 44.7% and 46.4%, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, whether pregnant women took folic acid, iron supplements, or DHA did not influence NAb positivity or IgG positivity (P > 0.05). Compared with pregnant women who did not take folic acid, the odds ratios (ORs) for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 NAb and IgG antibody in pregnant women who took folic acid were 0.67 (P = 0.255; 95% CI, 0.34-1.32) and 1.24 (P = 0.547; 95% CI, 0.60-2.55), respectively. Compared with pregnant women who did not take iron supplements, the ORs for the presence of NAb and IgG antibody in pregnant women who took iron supplements were 1.16(P = 0.465; 95% CI, 0.77-1.76) and 0.98 (P = 0.931; 95% CI, 0.64-1.49), respectively. Similarly, the ORs for NAb and IgG antibody were 0.71 (P = 0.085; 95% CI, 0.49-1.04) and 0.95 (P = 0.801; 95% CI, 0.65-1.38) in pregnant women who took DHA compared with those who did not.

Conclusions: Nutritional supplementation with folic acid, iron, or DHA during pregnancy was not associated with antibody levels in pregnant women who received inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines*
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Folic Acid
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Iron
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnant Women
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccines, Inactivated
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Folic Acid
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Iron
  • Vaccines, Inactivated

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine before or during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study grant [41-43241529], the 2022 Science and Technology Innovation Project of Guangdong Medical Products Administration “Discussion on active monitoring methods for adverse reactions of vaccines on the market based on the real world” grant [2022TDZ21], and by the 2022 Science and Technology Innovation Project of Guangdong Medical Products Administration "Research and application of key technology and evaluation system of pharmacovigilance" project funding [2022ZDZ06]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.