Low cholesterol levels associated with a 528% increased risk of gastric cancer

This study was published in Scientific Reports 2016 Jan 28;6:19930

Study title and authors:
Apolipoprotein E epsilon 2 allele and low serum cholesterol as risk factors for gastric cancer in a Chinese Han population.

Kang R, Li P, Wang T, Li X, Wei Z, Zhang Z, Zhong L, Cao L, Heckman MG, Zhang YW, Xu H, Huang C, Bu G, Chen XF.
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26817942

One of the aims of this study was to evaluate the association between cholesterol levels and gastric cancer. The study included 550 gastric cancer patients and 550 cancer free control individuals.

Regarding cholesterol levels, the study found:
(a) Those with the lowest cholesterol levels (less than 4.29 mmol/L (165 mg/dL)) had a 528% increased risk of gastric cancer compared to those with the highest cholesterol levels (more than 5.75 mmol/L (222 mg/dL).
(b) Those with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels (less than 1.08 mmol/L (41 mg/dL)) had a 499% increased risk of gastric cancer compared to those with the highest HDL cholesterol levels (more than 1.63 mmol/L (63 mg/dL).
(c) Those with the lowest LDL cholesterol levels (less than 2.71 mmol/L (104 mg/dL)) had a 54% increased risk of gastric cancer compared to those with the highest LDL cholesterol levels (more than 3.97 mmol/L (153 mg/dL).

Kang concluded: "In summary, our study confirmed the associations of lower levels of serum cholesterol with the incidence of gastric cancer."

Links to other studies:
High cholesterol levels reduce the risk of stomach cancer
Low cholesterol is an independent risk factor for developing gastric cancer
Low HDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of gastric cancer

Low HDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of gastric cancer.

This study was published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2012 Oct;27(10):1635-40

 

Study title and authors:

Evaluation of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients.

Tamura T, Inagawa S, Hisakura K, Enomoto T, Ohkohchi N.

Department of Surgery, Doctoral Program in Clinical Science, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22647147

The study investigated the relationship between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and the risk of gastric cancer. The study included 184 patients who had undergone gastrectomy (gastrectomy is a partial or full surgical removal of the stomach).

The patients were divided into two groups:
(i) Normal levels of HDL cholesterol group.
(ii) Low levels of HDL cholesterol group.

The study found:
(a) In the low HDL cholesterol group the cancer had significantly increased in the lymphatic and vascular systems.
(b) The prognosis of the patients in the normal HDL cholesterol group was significantly better than those in the low HDL cholesterol group.

The results of the study show a correlation between low HDL cholesterol levels and an increased risk of gastric cancer.

A diet high in saturated fat raises HDL cholesterol levels. See here here and here.

Low cholesterol is an independent risk factor for developing gastric cancer

This study was published in the International Journal of Cancer 2008 Feb 15;122(4):909-14

 

Study title and authors:

Impact of serum total cholesterol on the incidence of gastric cancer in a population-based prospective study: the Hisayama study.

Asano K, Kubo M, Yonemoto K, Doi Y, Ninomiya T, Tanizaki Y, Arima H, Shirota T, Matsumoto T, Iida M, Kiyohara Y.

Department of Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. k-asano@intmed2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17957783

This study examined the association between cholesterol levels and the incidence of gastric cancer. The study included 2,604 subjects aged 40 years or older were followed for 14 years.

The study found:
(a) Men with the lowest cholesterol (under 4.42 mmol/L or 171 mg/dL) had a 78% increased risk of developing gastric cancer compared with men with the highest cholesterol (over 5.77 mmol/L or 223 mg/dL).
(b) Women with the lowest cholesterol (under 4.78 mmol/L or 184 mg/dL) had a 68% increased risk of developing gastric cancer compared with women with the highest cholesterol (over 6.26 mmol/L or 242 mg/dL).

The findings of the study suggest that low cholesterol is an independent risk factor for developing gastric cancer.