Research suggests that high levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein) may reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
The research findings, which were published in Gut, the international journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, focused on the long term impact of diet on the development of cancer in more than half a million people from 10 European countries, including the UK. It included 1,200 people who had developed bowel and rectal cancers (779 bowel cancer and 459 rectal cancer) and these participants were matched with 1,200 people of the same age, gender and nationality. Blood samples were taken and dietary questionnaires were completed to identify any distinct differences between the two groups. Findings showed that those who had the highest levels of HDL cholesterol, and another blood fat called apolipoprotein A, or apoA, which is also a component of HDL cholesterol, had the lowest risk of developing bowel cancer.
After taking account of diet, lifestyle and weight; a 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. However they had no impact on reducing the risk of rectal cancer.
