Influence of adiposity and sex on SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in vaccinated university students: A cross-sectional ESFUERSO study

Prior studies have identified various determinants of differential immune responses to COVID-19. This study focused on the Ig-G anti-RBD marker, analyzing its potential correlations with sex, vaccine type, body fat percentage, metabolic risk, perceived stress, and previous COVID-19 exposure. In this study, data (available in S1 Data) were obtained from 108 participants from the ESFUERSO cohort, who completed questionnaires detailing their COVID-19 experiences and stress levels assessed through the SISCO scale. IgG anti-RBD concentrations were quantified using an ELISA assay developed by UNAM. Multiple regression analysis was employed to control for covariates, including sex, age, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and perceived stress. This sample comprised young individuals (average age of 21.4 years), primarily consisting of females (70%), with a substantial proportion reporting a family history of diabetes, hypertension, or obesity. Most students had received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and 91% displayed a positive anti-RBD response. A noteworthy finding was the interaction between body fat percentage and sex. In males, increased adiposity was associated with decreased Ig-G anti-RBD concentration; in females, the response increased. Importantly, this pattern remained consistent regardless of the vaccine received. No significant associations were observed for dietary habits or perceived stress variables. This research reports the impact of sex and body fat percentage on the immune response through Ig-G anti-RBD levels to COVID-19 vaccines. The implications of these findings offer a foundation for educational initiatives and the formulation of preventive policies aimed at mitigating health disparities

Project: Center for Diabetes and Metabolism [Centro de Diabetes y Metabolismo: CeDiMet], a collaborative dream comes true

Reynosa urban area has 690,000 inhabitants (384,000 adults \u3e20 years old), 35% moved from other states. The use of cell phones is in 81%, personal computer or laptop with 29%. The prevalence of overweight is 39%, obesity 36%, and T2D 13%. The expected adult population with T2D is 49,900 individuals. The are 5 clinics prepared to attend T2D, and few with specialized personnel. The CeDiMet is a collaborative clinic involving health personnel and researchers from the Universidad Mexico Americana del Norte, Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Hospital General de Mexico “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the Texas Diabetes Institute in San Antonio. The funding source comes from private companies in Reynosa. The clinical structure includes physicians, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, and a section for telemedicine for consulting specialists from USA and Mexico City. Besides clinical attendance, the CeDiMet will conduct educational activities in offices, factories, churches, and schools for prevention of obesity complications (T2D and hypertension), early detection of diabetic foot, fatty liver, and endothelial damage. “Tree of Health in the Family” is a program to encourage youth to know and understand the metabolic problems in their families to focus on prevention. Recently, we obtained a grant from COTACyT to explore the effect of COVID-19 in a cohort of 200 students and their families. The analysis of post-traumatic stress due to confinement and antibodies concentration to detect contacts and its association with metabolic problems is an example of the research we can perform

Neutralizing anti-RBD fraction for SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the interaction waist circumference and sex. An ESFUERSO preliminary report on university students

In a previous study we reported that 25% of college students had a family history of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and 39% of hypertension. Interestingly, between 17 to 47% reported not knowing about T2D or hypertension, neither the existing obesity-metabolic problems (ESFUERSO study). The COVID-19 pandemic forced confinement and modifications in food intake, physical activity, and psychological stress. This study aimed to analyze if the immune Ig-G anti-RBD (protective epitope in S protein) response associated with type of vaccination, metabolic risk, perceived stress, and history of COVID-19 contacts. We included 116 students at the 3th year of follow up in the ESFUERSO cohort at Reynosa. Mean age 21.4 (SD 1.04) years old, BMI 28 (6.6), females 70% (81/116). The serum concentration of Ig-G anti-RGB measured by ELISA adjusted by sex, age, body fat percentage, and BMI was analyzed. Researchers performed a multiple regression analysis with Stata V17.0. We found that 70% of the students had a family history of diabetes, hypertension, and/or obesity at baseline. Only 5 (4%) students did not have any vaccine at the time of the study, 102 (88%) were vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer and 9 (8%) with other vaccines (Cansino, Sinovac). The prevalence of positive anti-RBD was 91%. The body fat percentage interacted with sex (p=0.034) explaining the serum concentration of anti-RBD decreased as adiposity increases in men, but increased in women. The interaction remained is spite of type of vaccination. We found no differences among metabolic risks for food consumption, distress, uncertainty, lack of sleep, sadness, and anxiety were associated with metabolic problems. Our model predicts neutralizing anti-RBD had multiplicative interaction by sex and body fat percentage (increases in females and decreases in males), with no effects on stress score or food consumption