Article

HDL Cholesterol Benefits the Heart and Bowel Cancer Risk

The association between HDL cholesterol and cancer risk reduction exists irrespective of indicators like inflammation and insulin resistance.

High levels of "good" (high density lipoprotein) HDL cholesterol seem to cut the risk of bowel cancer, suggests research published in Gut.

The association is independent of other potentially cancer-inducing markers of inflammation in the blood.

The researchers base their findings on participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. This is tracking the long term impact of diet on the development of cancer in more than half a million people in 10 European countries, including the UK.

Some 1,200 people who developed bowel and rectal cancers - 779 bowel and 459 rectal cancer - after agreeing to take part in EPIC were matched with another 1,200 participants of the same age, gender, and nationality.

Blood samples taken when they joined the study, and the dietary questionnaires these participants had completed, were compared to see if there were any discernible differences between the two groups.

The analysis showed that those who had the highest levels of HDL cholesterol, and another blood fat, apolipoprotein A, or apoA - a component of HDL cholesterol - had the lowest risk of developing bowel cancer.

Each rise of 16.6 mg/dl in HDL and of 32 mg/dl in apoA reduced the risk of bowel cancer by 22% and 18%, respectively, after taking account of diet, lifestyle, and weight.

But HDL and apoA levels had no impact on the risk of rectal cancer.

After excluding those who had only been monitored for two years, as they may have already been undergoing cancerous changes when they joined the study, only levels of HDL were associated with a reduction in bowel cancer risk.

The association remained intact, irrespective of other indicators of inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxygen free radicals levels, all of which are associated with the development of cancer.

The authors explain that low HDL levels have been linked to higher levels of proteins involved in inflammation, while higher levels of proteins that dampen down the inflammatory response have also been linked to high HDL levels.

The pro inflammatory proteins boost cell growth and proliferation while curbing cell death, so HDL may alter the inflammatory process in some way, they suggest.

Source: British Medical Journal

Related Videos
The APAC Recap: Cardiomyopathy at CAPP Live 2024 with Greg Duck, PA-C | Image Credit: APAC
The APAC Recap: Peripheral Artery Disease at CAPP Live 2024 with Bob Ross, PA-C | Image Credit: APAC
AMG0001 Advances Healing in CLTI with David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, and Michael S. Conte, MD | Image Credit: Canva
Brigit Vogel, MD: Exploring Geographical Disparities in PAD Care Across US| Image Credit: LinkedIn
| Image Credit: X
Ahmad Masri, MD, MS | Credit: Oregon Health and Science University
Ahmad Masri, MD, MS | Credit: Oregon Health and Science University
Stephen Nicholls, MBBS, PhD | Credit: Monash University
Marianna Fontana, MD, PhD: Nex-Z Shows Promise in ATTR-CM Phase 1 Trial | Image Credit: Radcliffe Cardiology
Zerlasiran Achieves Durable Lp(a) Reductions at 60 Weeks, with Stephen J. Nicholls, MD, PhD | Image Credit: Monash University
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.