Hepatitis B Vaccine May Lower Diabetes Risk: Study Finds - Video

A new study to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) and published in the journal Diagnostics has found that individuals with hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunity, achieved through vaccination, may have a lower risk of developing diabetes.

The liver plays a central role in glucose metabolism, and HBV infection is believed to impair liver function, disrupting metabolic pathways and increasing the likelihood of abnormal blood sugar levels and diabetes. While HBV vaccination protects against infection, its role in diabetes prevention among uninfected individuals has remained unclear until now.

To explore this, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using anonymized electronic medical records from the TriNetX global health research platform. Data were collected from 131 healthcare organizations across the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The study included adults aged 18 and above who had hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) test results and no history of HBV infection. Participants were classified as HBV-immunised (HBsAb ≥10 mIU/mL) or unimmunised (HBsAb <10 mIU/mL).

Among over 890,000 individuals, the HBV-immunised group showed a 15% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to the unimmunised group. A dose-response relationship was also observed: individuals with HBsAb levels of 100 mIU/mL and above and 1000 mIU/mL and above had 19% and 43% lower diabetes risks, respectively.

The association between HBV immunity and reduced diabetes risk was stronger in younger individuals compared to middle-aged and older individuals. This finding may be attributed to the natural aging of the immune system, also known as immunosenescence, which leads to diminished vaccine-induced immune responses in older adults.

Geographical variation was also observed. The researchers also suggested a possible behavioural influence: “From a behavioral perspective, individuals who complete vaccination schedules may be more health-conscious and more likely to engage in healthier behaviors, such as maintaining a better diet or exercising regularly. This raises the possibility that health behavior may act as a confounder in the observed association.”

The authors conclude that further studies are needed to confirm these effects and investigate the underlying mechanisms. If validated, the HBV vaccine could become a key tool for the prevention of both infectious and chronic diseases.

Reference: https://www.easd.org/annual-meeting/easd-2025/