HDL cholesterol reduces the risk of bowel cancer

Scientists have found that high levels of good cholesterol (HDL) may help cut the risk of bowel cancer, according to a study published in Gut magazine.

The scientists studied analyzing the data on participants in a European investigation of nutrition and cancer (EPIC), to examine the long-term impact of diet on the development of cancer symptoms in more than half a million people in Europe.

Approximately 1,200 people with bowel and colorectal cancer agreed to participate in the EPIC study to compare with 1,200 other healthy people of the same age, gender and nationality.

Scientists took blood samples from both groups when participating in the study and completed dietary survey questions to determine the differences between the two groups. The results showed that people with the highest cholesterol levels and another type of blood fat called apolipoprotein A (apoA - a factor of HDL cholesterol) had the lowest risk of bowel cancer.

Specifically, if HDL cholesterol levels increase by 16.6mg / dl and / or apoA fat levels by 32mg / dl, the risk of bowel cancer decreases by 22% and 18%, respectively. This result has taken into account the factors of diet, lifestyle and body weight. However, HDL cholesterol and apoA fat have no effect on the risk of rectal cancer.

Good cholesterol is a fat protein that transports cholesterol to the liver for liver damage. This fat protein is heavy, has a high density, the name is short for HDL. People with high levels of HDL reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. If HDL is too little, then the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. HDL in the blood is low, probably due to heredity, but if you exercise a lot, HDL will increase.

Bowel cancer is a term used to refer to colon and rectal cancer. These are the last two " gateways " of food digestion, so any errors in the digestive system are likely to cause abnormalities in cell development in these places.

When the digestive tract is in trouble, most tumors are more likely to develop in the colon and rectum than other organs. In addition, when cancer cells appear and develop in these two parts, there are many similar symptoms. Bowel cancer is the second most common disease, just behind lung cancer, but the rate of successful treatment is up to 90% if detected early.