Does the status of micronutrients affect immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis patients?

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints. It is recommended to start disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as soon as RA diagnosis is confirmed. The role of zinc, copper, magnesium, and ceruloplasmin on vaccine-induced immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses remains uncertain, particularly in the context of RA patients receiving ongoing immunosuppressive treatments. This study aimed to explore the association between baseline levels of these trace elements and IgG responses in RA patients following the second dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine, within a 12–16-week interval. It also examined how DMARD treatments and trace element status relate to vaccine-induced immune responses, by comparing to a healthy control group. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted including 79 RA patients and 47 healthy controls. Serum levels of zinc, copper, magnesium, ceruloplasmin, and IgG were measured.