Vitamin A Positively Correlates with Secretory Immunoglobulin A: A Cross-Sectional Study in Omicron COVID-19 Outpatients
Francisco Javier Turrubiates-Hernández, Samuel García-Arellano, Laura Elena Herrera-Jiménez, Guillermo González-Estevez, Fabiola Márquez-Sandoval, Diana Lourdes Padilla-Bórquez, Hazael Ramiro Ceja-Gálvez, Natali Vega-Magaña, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Guillermina Muñoz-Ríos, José Francisco Muñoz-Valle
Journal of Clinical Medicine, doi:10.3390/jcm13061538
Background: Respiratory tract infections remain among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of mucosal immunity in defending against infectious agents. Vitamin A is known to influence the production of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) predominantly in the gut, where it is a critical component of the first line of defense on mucosal surfaces. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted 14 days post-positive COVID-19 diagnosis, aimed to determine the relationship between the nutritional status of vitamin A and SIgA levels in COVID-19 outpatients. Serum and saliva samples were collected. Vitamin A nutritional status was determined based on the assessment of dietary intake and the analysis of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4). SIgA levels were analyzed from salivary samples. In addition, serum antibodies were analyzed. Results: Dietary vitamin A intake and RBP4 levels positively correlated with SIgA. Patients with higher vitamin A intake showed higher SIgA/IgG1 and SIgA/IgG3 ratios, while those with higher RBP4 levels showed higher SIgA/IgM, SIgA/IgG1, and SIgA/IgG2 ratios. Conclusions: These findings underscore a significant correlation between vitamin A nutritional status and SIgA levels in COVID-19 outpatients, which may suggest the potential importance of maintaining optimal vitamin A levels for the prevention of viral infections.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
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