Boosting good cholesterol could reduce cancer risk

I bolded the interesting part about bad cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about what statins really do for you. Wonder why this is from 2009 and just shows up now.
http://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/AboutUs/NewsReleases/2009NewsReleases/AHA_Scientific_Sessions_HDL_C

Data released today at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2009 demonstrate reduced cancer risk with increased levels of HDL-C (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is known as “good cholesterol” because of its ability to reduce heart disease risk). The data show a 21% (95% CI: 8%-33%) relative reduction in the rate of cancer incidence with every 10 point increase (10 mg/dl) in HDL-C (p = 0.05). The decrease in cancer risk with increasing HDL-C levels was even stronger when adjusted for baseline LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), age, BMI and smoking status (p = 0.004).

“It may be that the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of HDL-C help to counteract the inflammatory processes that cause cancer cells to multiply, and I believe future studies on this mechanism are necessary” said Richard Karas, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Associate Director, Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, who led this research. “These data further support how important it is for researchers and clinicians to move away from looking only at the total cholesterol and instead to focus more on the various components of total cholesterol.”

Results demonstrate cancer risk is reduced with increased levels of HDL-C, independent of LDL-C, age, BMI and smoking status, based on a meta-analysis of 21 related randomized-controlled trials involving 586,528 person-years of follow-up, and 7,928 incident cancers, over a median follow-up of five years (interquartile range 2.9 - 5.1).

Findings also confirm previous data by the same research group at Tufts Medical Center demonstrating that increasing LDL-C (“bad cholesterol”) levels are associated with a decreased risk of cancer incidence, and reaffirmed a well-known association between increased age and increased cancer risk. Interestingly, the study found a connection between BMI (Body Mass Index, a statistical measurement of body fat and, therefore, obesity) and cancer risk, which was no longer significant when researchers adjusted for HDL-C.

About Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children

Tufts Medical Center is an exceptional, not-for-profit, 451-bed academic medical center that is home to both a full-service hospital for adults and Floating Hospital for Children. Conveniently located in downtown Boston, the Medical Center is the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. Founded in 1796 as the Boston Dispensary, Tufts Medical Center is the oldest permanent medical facility in New England and one of the first hospitals in the nation. For more than 200 years, Tufts Medical Center has pioneered innovative programs in clinical care and research and is a recognized leader in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, organ transplantation and pediatrics. More information is available at www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org.