Shingles vaccine has unexpected effect on heart health
Beyond protecting against the viral infection and resulting painful rash, the shot has also been linked to a reduced risk of dementia, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
And now, a new study has found that the vaccine could lower the risk of heart disease for up to eight years.
Dementia Risk Could Dip With Common Vaccine, Study Suggests
In the long-running study, researchers analyzed up to 12 years of data for more than 1.2 million people aged 50 or older in South Korea, focusing on shingles vaccination rates and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease.
They found that those who received the shingles vaccine had a 23% lower risk of heart issues, including stroke, heart failure and coronary artery disease.
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The benefits were greater for people under 60 years old, likely because they have a better immune response, according to the researchers.
Blood Pressure And Dementia Risk Share Surprising Link, Study Suggests
The vaccine's heart health benefits were also more prominent among men and those who have unhealthy behaviors, such as being sedentary, drinking alcohol and smoking.
The findings were published in the European Heart Journal on Tuesday.
The primary symptom of shingles is a painful rash that can lead to serious complications, particularly for older adults and those with weak immune systems, according to lead author Professor Dong Keon Yon from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Without vaccination, about 30% of people may develop shingles in their lifetime, Yon noted.
"In addition to the rash, shingles has been linked to a higher risk of heart problems, so we wanted to find out if getting vaccinated could lower this risk," he said in a press release.
"Our study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help lower the risk of heart disease, even in people without known risk factors. This means that vaccination could offer health benefits beyond preventing shingles."
The researchers shared several possible reasons for the vaccine's protective effect on heart health.
"A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease," Yon said. "By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks."
Dr. Jasdeep Dalawari, a Virginia-based interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company, was not involved in the study but offered his comments on the findings.
"This result is notable but requires careful interpretation, especially for the U.S. population," he told Fox News Digital.
"The study used a live vaccine, whereas the U.S. uses Shingrix, a recombinant (non-live) vaccine," Dalawari noted. "It's important to note that Shingrix is over 90% effective against shingles, compared to the live vaccine's 51%."
The live zoster vaccine contains a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles.
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The cardiologist also pointed out that the observational study shows correlation, not causation, and that further research is needed.
"The study included 1.2 million individuals aged 50+, all from one ethnicity," he said. "Expanding the participant pool to include diverse ethnicities would be beneficial in our multi-ethnic society."
Although the study did consider other health conditions, lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status, the researchers agreed that it had some limitations.
"As this study is based on an Asian cohort, the results may not apply to all populations," Yon noted. "While we conducted rigorous analysis, this study does not establish a direct causal relationship, so potential bias from other underlying factors should be considered."
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The team plans to conduct further research into the heart health benefits of the non-live, recombinant vaccine, which contains a protein from the virus.Original article source: Shingles vaccine has unexpected effect on heart health
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NBC News
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Gilbert Dryden probably only has enough medication to get him through the end of October, his mother, Madison, figures. Seven-month-old Gilbert has a rare genetic condition called Barth syndrome, one that can have dire consequences, like heart failure, extreme muscle weakness and a dramatically reduced life expectancy. Children who die early often don't see their fifth birthday. Two infant deaths were reported within the past week, according to the Barth Syndrome Foundation. What's been keeping Gilbert alive and functioning relatively well, according to his family, is an experimental drug called elamipretide, made by Stealth BioTherapeutics. Small studies have suggested it's safe and effective in treating the ultra-rare illness. Just 150 people in the U.S. have the condition. 'Our kids are dying. We have seen that this drug works,' said Kate McCurdy, a co-founder of the Barth Syndrome Foundation. 'This drug totally saves the lives of babies.' After a more than decade-long process to bring the drug to market, the treatment's approval has repeatedly hit roadblocks with the Food and Drug Administration. One setback occurred in the spring, when an FDA inspection found problems at a Stealth manufacturing facility. The problems weren't made public, but apparently weren't egregious enough to warrant regulatory action. The company said the issues have been resolved. In late May, after an advisory panel voted earlier (in October 2024) to recommend the therapy, the FDA declined to approve it. The agency didn't reveal why. An ultra-rare disease like Barth syndrome with an ultra-small population of patients who can be tested for clinical efficacy faces barriers for FDA drug approval. There aren't enough patients to do robust, randomized clinical trials, McCurdy said. 'It is virtually impossible to conduct trials that yield data that are conclusive beyond a reasonable doubt. Statistically, you just can't do that,' she said. 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In October 2024, an advisory committee to the FDA voted 10-6 in support of the therapy, paving the way for the agency to clear the first drug to treat Barth syndrome. The FDA isn't required to follow the advisory committee's guidance, but it almost always does. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, wrote in an email that the 'FDA did carefully consider the advice of the advisory committee members, including their rationale for their vote. While there is often a high rate of agreement between FDA and advisory committee recommendations,' the spokesman said, 'there is not always concordance.' 'Compelling medical need' for approval After the advisory committee's recommendation, the FDA's rejection was unexpected. 'It is a small sample size,' said a former FDA official who was involved in the drug approval process. The person asked not to be identified in order to speak freely. 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