A vaccine for diabetes?
The anti-rotavirus vaccine can probably protect against diabetes as well
Lina Medvedeva, XX2 century
Rotaviruses are the most common cause of diarrhea in young children. Two vaccines are widely used to treat them, one of which targets the most common strain, and the more expensive version prevents exposure to five strains.
A recent study (Perrett et al., Association of Rotavirus Vaccination With the Occurrence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children) showed a surprising decrease in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Australia after the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine. Dr. Mary Rogers from the University of Michigan decided to find out if this was just a coincidence. In order not to be influenced by the small sample size, she used anonymized medical records of 1.47 million American children born after 2001. Of these, more than half a million received a full course of one or another rotavirus vaccine.
In a publication in Scientific Reports (Lower Incident Rate of Type 1 Diabetes after Receipt of the Rotavirus Vaccine in the United States) Rogers reports that the probability of developing type I diabetes in children who received a full vaccination during the study period was 41% lower, and in children who received a version against five strains, even lower. Partially vaccinated showed indicators virtually identical to those who were not vaccinated at all, however, due to the smaller sample size, it is difficult to draw preliminary conclusions.
During the study period, most of the children who received vaccinations against rotavirus infections also received other vaccinations. Rogers used data from older children who had received other vaccinations before the advent of rotavirus vaccines to confirm that it was the new vaccination that was significant.
The effect was significantly higher among children born in the period 2012-2016, as opposed to those born before 2011. It is unclear whether this is because the vaccine has somehow been improved or, in some cases, delays rather than completely prevents the onset of diabetes.
Rogers also investigated the effectiveness of the vaccine in terms of its direct purpose. The rate of hospitalization with rotavirus infections was 94% lower compared to unvaccinated children.
As for any other side effects, vaccinated children were 31% less likely to need hospitalization for any reason within 60 days after taking the oral vaccine.
No matter how surprising the connection of the virus with diabetes is, the fact is that rotavirus can infect the pancreas, there is evidence that it leaves behind damaged beta cells. However, the researchers say they cannot point to a simple causal relationship between rotavirus vaccines and the risk of type I diabetes.
"This is an unusual disease, so it takes a lot of data to track trends," says Rogers. – It will take more time to confirm the conclusions. But after the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine, there is a decrease in the incidence of diabetes mellitus in young children."
Researchers believe that the simple application of existing vaccination recommendations can significantly reduce the risk of chronic disease.
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