The association of the vitamin D status with the persistence of anti-HBs antibody at 20 years after primary vaccination with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in infancy

SummaryBackground and objectiveVitamin D has potent immunoregulatory effects due to the expression of its receptor on the majority of immune cells. The aim was to evaluate the association of the vitamin D status with the persistence of anti-HBs antibody and immune response to booster immunization at 20 years after primary vaccination with hepatitis B (HB) vaccine.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 300 adults 20 years after completion of the primary HB vaccination in infancy. The serum levels of vitamin D and anti-HBs antibody were measured by ELISA. A single booster dose of a recombinant HB vaccine was administered to a total of 138 subjects, whose anti-HBs titer was < 10 IU/L. The sera of revaccinated subjects were re-tested for anti-HBs antibody, 4 weeks after booster vaccination.ResultsAt 20 years after primary vaccination, the mean vitamin D concentrations were significantly higher in seroprotective subjects as compared to non-seroprotective individuals (P < 0.01). The levels of anti-HBs were significantly increased with advanced concentrations of vitamin D (P < 0.01). Overall, 125/138 (90.6%) of the revaccinated subjects showed an anamnestic response to booster vaccination. The concentrations of vitamin D were significantly higher in subjects with an anamnestic response to booster vaccination as compared with subjects without this response (P < 0.01).ConclusionVitamin D status may influence the persistence of anti-HBs antibody and durability of protection after primary vaccination with a recombinant HB vaccine in infancy.