Even though it is still at its early stage, researchers revealed that they are on the verge of creating a vaccine that could prevent increase cholesterol level. Scientists from the University of New Mexico and National Health Institutes claimed that clinical testing showed promising results to both monkey and mice.
With increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases these days, many people take cholesterol-lowering statins to prevent heart-related injury. This study, nevertheless, brings good news as it presents a new, injectable form of vaccine that helps prevent fat buildup.
Most drug manufacturers target a protein called PCSK9 to bring cholesterol levels down. In fact, a new class of drug has been approved recently in the United States. To end the daily intake and side effects of statins, such as muscle pain, increased likelihood of diabetes, loss of memory and decline in reasoning, researchers are on the quest of seeking for an effective, cheaper alternative.
"Although they [statins] are effective in many people, do have side effects and don't work for everyone. The results of our vaccine were very striking, and suggest it could be a powerful new treatment for high cholesterol," said one of the study authors Dr. Alan Remaley from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
The vaccine under study targets the same protein. Researchers found in their experiment that just one vaccination could potentially decrease LDL (bad type of cholesterol) levels in the animals. "One of the most exciting things about this new vaccine as it seems to be much more effective than statins alone," said Dr Bryce Chackerian in a statement.
So far, the vaccine has only been tested on animals but had shown to decrease cholesterol level by 55 percent compared with the 30 percent by statins. More research needs to be conducted to determine its potential use and effects in humans.
