Serum Concentration of Antibodies to Mumps, but Not Measles, Rubella, or Varicella, Is Associated with Intake of Dietary Fiber in the NHANES, 1999–2004

Abstract

Treatment with prebiotics, a type of dietary fiber, was recently shown to increase antibody concentrations following influenza vaccination in a meta-analysis of clinical trials. In observational epidemiologic studies it is not possible to estimate intake of prebiotics, but quantifying intake of dietary fiber is routine. Our objective was to investigate the potential effect of dietary fiber on immunogenicity. We examined serum antibody concentrations (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella) in relation to dietary fiber in more than 12,000 subjects in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the period 1999–2004. Data from one (1999–2002) or two (2003–2004) dietary recalls were used to calculate fiber intake. For Mumps the adjusted percentage difference in antibody concentration per interquartile range intake in energy-adjusted dietary fiber was 6.34% (95% confidence interval, 3.10, 9.68). Fiber from grain-based foods was more positively associated than fiber from other fiber-containing food groups. The association was slightly larger among subgroups with higher fiber intake, greater interquartile range in fiber intake, and less measurement error. Furthermore, based on the reliability of the diet recalls in 2003–2004, we calculated that the percentage difference per interquartile increment was substantially attenuated by measurement error. Dietary fiber may have a favorable influence on the immunogenicity of some vaccines or natural infections.

Antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines among workers with a wide range of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

“…Although it’s possible that some PFAS could be more immunotoxic to humans than laboratory animals, it also seems plausible that confounding by an unidentified factor that both increases immune response and decreases serum PFAS could be occurring. For example, dietary fiber might enhance immune response and decrease serum PFAS sufficiently to induce an association the size seen in such studies ( Dzierlenga et al, 2021 , Van Landingham et al, 2021 ).…”

Dietary Intake and Pneumococcal Vaccine Response Among Children (5–7 Years) in Msambweni Division, Kwale County, Kenya

“…Putting together the data from this study and from the current literature, it is evident that a lower nutritional intake can be a critical determinant of immune response ( 82 ). In fact, children malnourishment is currently considered as the most common cause of secondary immunodeficiency worldwide ( 83 ). Furthermore, despite childhood malnutrition is not often considered or diagnosed as a comorbidity involved in several infectious diseases, it affects both innate and adaptive immunity.…”

Pharmacological Efficacy of Probiotics in Respiratory Viral Infections: A Comprehensive Review

“…Prebiotics are a form of dietary fiber demonstrated to boost antibody levels after immunization. Epidemiologic studies have observed that the estimation of intake of prebiotics is complex, but quantifying dietary fiber is a routine process [ 156 ]. This section investigates the immunogenicity of prebiotics and probiotics.…”