Being obese can impair the physique’s antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 an infection however to not the safety supplied by COVID-19 vaccination, in accordance with a research. The discovering, revealed within the journal Clinical & Translational Immunology, builds on the group’s present analysis on how COVID-19 impacts people who find themselves obese. (Also Read | Overweight people’s brains have different appetite control centre: Study)
« We have previously shown that being overweight—not just being obese—increases the severity of SARS-CoV-2, » mentioned Marcus Tong, a Ph.D. candidate on the University of Queensland in Australia.
« But this work reveals that being obese creates an impaired antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection however to not vaccination, » Tong mentioned.
The group collected blood samples from individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and never been reinfected throughout the research interval, roughly three months and 13 months post-infection.
« At three months post-infection, an elevated BMI was associated with reduced antibody levels, » Tong mentioned.
« And at 13 months post-infection, an elevated BMI was related to each lowered antibody exercise and a lowered share of the related B cells, a sort of cell that helps construct these COVID-fighting antibodies, » he added.
The physique mass index (BMI) is outlined because the physique mass divided by the sq. of the physique peak.
In distinction, an elevated BMI had no impact on the antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination at roughly six months after the second vaccine was administered, the researchers mentioned.
According to Kirsty Short, Associate Professor on the University of Queensland, the outcomes ought to assist form well being coverage transferring ahead.
« If infection is associated with an increased risk of severe disease and an impaired immune response for the overweight, this group has a potentially increased risk of reinfection, » Short mentioned.
« It makes it more important than ever for this group to ensure they’re vaccinated, » she added.
The researchers famous that from a public well being perspective, this information attracts into query insurance policies round boosters and lockdowns.
« We’d suggest that more personalised recommendations are needed for overweight people, both for ongoing COVID-19 management and future pandemics, » Short mentioned.
« Finally, the data provides an added impetus to improve SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in low-income countries, where there’s a high percentage of people who are overweight and are dependent on infection-induced immunity, » she added.
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