another reason to avoid Statin drugs

Dr. Weeks’ Comment: Planning on getting the few shot (don’t!) and also taking statins? Read below on the immune suppressing effect statin drugs have on flu vaccination efficacy in seniors. Now we have further data suggesting that statins suppress the immune system. If you (or someone you love) are taking statins read these posts THIS and THIS and THIS and THIS and, why not know the whole story – read THIS…. The only benefit of statins are that they serve as a weak anti-inflammatory agent – that is why they are being pitched for use with cancer patients. But for anti-inflammation – SOUL trumps all other agents.

“…Apparently, statins interfere with the response to influenza vaccine and lower the immune response, and this would seem to also result in a lower effectiveness of influenza vaccines…”

Studies raise questions about impact of statins on flu vaccination in seniors
Date: October 29, 2015

Source: Infectious Diseases Society of America [two studies, editorial]

Summary:

Statin use may hinder immune response, vaccine effectiveness, say researchers.

A new pair of studies suggests that statins, drugs widely used to reduce cholesterol, may have a detrimental effect on the immune response to influenza vaccine and the vaccine’s effectiveness at preventing serious illness in older adults. The findings, if confirmed by additional research, may have implications for flu vaccine recommendations, guidelines for statin use around the time of vaccination, and future vaccine clinical trials in seniors… “Apparently, statins interfere with the response to influenza vaccine and lower the immune response, and this would seem to also result in a lower effectiveness of influenza vaccines,” said Dr. Steven Black, MD, of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the immune response study. If confirmed, the findings could support the preferential use of high-dose flu vaccine or vaccines containing adjuvants to boost immune response in the elderly, in an attempt to counteract the apparent effect, the study authors wrote.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151029093638.htm* * * *
Journal References:

Steven Black, Uwe Nicolay, Giuseppe Del Giudice, Rino Rappuoli. Influence of Statins on Influenza Vaccine Response in Elderly Individuals. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2015; jiv456
Saad B. Omer, Varun K. Phadke, Robert A. Bednarczyk, Allison T. Chamberlain, Jennifer L. Brosseau, Walter A. Orenstein. Impact of Statins on Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Medically Attended Acute Respiratory Illness. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2015; jiv457
Robert L. Atmar, Wendy A. Keitel. Influenza Vaccination of Patients Receiving Statins: Where Do We Go From Here? Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2015; jiv459

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