'Good' cholesterol cuts cancer risk

Charlyn Fargo, Contributor

It is surprising how prevention for one disease can also help prevent another, making the choices we make on a daily basis even more important. An analysis of 24 randomised controlled trials found that cancer risk dropped 36 per cent for every 10 mg/dl higher increment of HDL (good) cholesterol.

Dr Richard Karas, of Tufts Medical Center's Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, and colleagues examined data on studies that totalled 76,265 intervention group patients and 69,478 controls, over an average of five years. Karas and his group found that the relationship between higher HDL and lower cancer incidence not only persisted, but also became stronger after adjusting for demographics and other risk factors.

Anti-inflammatory effect

Just how it works is not clear, but Karas suggested that HDL might have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that could reduce cancer risk, or HDL could help the body's immune system search out and destroy abnormal cells with the potential to grow into tumours.

It is fairly easy to raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol, but how do you raise the HDL (good) cholesterol? Published in the Journal of Nutrition, an Australian study showed that increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and fish was associated with moderate increases in HDL.

Non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, walnuts, soy foods and green leafy vegetables. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon and mackerel. In addition to eating right, you can boost HDL cholesterol levels by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.

— Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, September 2010

Hot flashes

Q: Can losing weight help with my hot flashes?

A: Research has shown that overweight women tend to have more frequent or severe hot flashes than their leaner counterparts. Recently, a UC San Francisco study tested this notion by putting 226 overweight or obese women - half of whom had hot flashes - on a six-month weight-loss programme. Compared to a control group, the women who lost weight (an average of 17 pounds), reported significant reductions in hot flashes.

— UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

On the Web

If you're looking for free information on healthy living after 50 that you can trust, try the Johns Hopkins Health Alerts website at www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com. It includes news and research on 18 health topics, such as prostate disorders, arthritis, nutrition, heart health, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, COPD and lung disorders, colon cancer and memory.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian at Creators Syndicate; www.creators.com.