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LOW CHOLESTEROL, CANCER, AND MORTALITY RISK.

While high cholesterol levels are known to increase mortality from coronary heart disease, some studies have also found that low levels of cholesterol may increase mortality from cancer. To analyze the relation between cholesterol and these two causes of death, Isles and colleagues followed 8262 women and 7000 men in Scotland, adjusting death rates for age, smoking status, body mass index, blood pressure, and social class.

In both sexes, plasma cholesterol was significantly and positively related to mortality from heart disease. Women showed a non-significant inverse relation between cholesterol levels and cancer deaths, but the relation was significant for other causes of death. In men, the inverse relation between cholesterol and cancer death was significant, especially for lung cancer. Overall mortality was not related to cholesterol levels, because cholesterol's negative relation with cancer and all other deaths balanced its positive relation with heart disease.

The authors conclude that it may be unwise to recommend that the general healthy population reduce its saturated fat intake until more is known about the risks associated with low cholesterol.

— HGA

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine May 12, 1989

Citation(s):

Isles CG et al. Plasma cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and cancer in the Renfrew and Paisley survey. BMJ 1989 Apr 8 298 920-924.

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