Iron deficiency and its impact on post-vaccination immunity: a review

Abstract

Modern vaccination programs are vital to overcoming the burden of infectious diseases and saving countless lives. The effective functioning of the adaptive immune system involves the interaction of many factors. Recent clinical studies have shown a significant role of iron in developing an immune response to infection and vaccination. Lymphocytes, the immune system's leading cells, cannot fully perform their functions without access to the circulating iron. The amount of iron bound to blood transferrin depends on its intake from food, and it is reduced during active inflammation due to the increase in the production of hepcidin, the main hormone regulating iron metabolism. Since iron deficiency conditions and chronic inflammatory processes are common, the potential impact of iron deficiency on the immune response warrants extensive study. The review presents data confirming the importance of iron for the correct functioning of the immune system and information on the effect of iron deficiency on the development of post-vaccination immunity.