CHOLESTEROL AND CANCER
Cancer has many causes including a poor functioning immune system. Ideally, the cells of the immune system would destroy cancerous cells before they could proliferate and metastasize. When it comes to total cholesterol, multiple studies have found that the higher the cholesterol, the lower your risk of infectious disease. (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809530/). If the immune system is working to prevent infection, it is working to prevent cancer. The following data demonstrates that higher cholesterol confers a lower risk of cancer.
Prostate
Patients undergoing radiation and prostatectomy fare better with higher levels of LDL. Those with the highest LDL had a 33% less cancer recurrence compared to those with the lowest LDL levels.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28093792
Lung
A recent study found those with lung cancer and the highest cholesterol levels had a 67% lower risk of dying. (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28006834)
Breast
Women with the highest cholesterol levels had the lowest risk of breast cancer. In fact, the number was 30% lower. The same study found women had a 39% lower risk of melanoma and a 39% lower risk of lymphoma/leukemia when their cholesterol levels were the highest. (
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/art...l.pone.0054242)
Pancreas
Men with the highest cholesterol had a 48% lower risk of pancreatic cancer along with a 33% lower risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, 86% lower risk of liver/gall bladder cancer, and a 32% lower risk of lymphoma and leukemia. (
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/art...l.pone.0054242)
Colorectal
Studies suggest that those with higher cholesterol levels are protected from colorectal cancer versus those with lower levels. (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9840100)
Connect With Us