High Cholesterol Levels Beckons Cancer
Cancer is a disease that is characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells in certain areas. It is however fostered by many different factors and up to now doctors as well as other medical researchers are still finding new factors that encourage the formation as well as the growth of the cancer cells. Cancer cells majorly get nutrients from the foods you eat just like the other normal healthy body cells however with slight difference in preference.
High cholesterol levels in the body have been linked to many health complications in the past. High cholesterol levels have been linked to heart related diseases, stroke and atherosclerosis. However, recent research findings have revealed that high cholesterol levels may increase risks to cancer. The low density lipoprotein are the worst forms of cholesterol also known as the bad cholesterols, they host major health problems hence should be gotten rid off before they cause a major health challenge to an individual.
Cholesterol though known for many health problems has not been easy to avoid especially to the lower class citizens. This is because most of the fats and oils used in food preparation are high in cholesterol content. These are the cheapest cooking fats in the market and with the rising costs of living especially in the 3rd world countries it becomes hard to avoid them. For this reason people have been victimized by the low density lipoprotein.
A new study specialized in signaling pathways, which is typically used by cells to carry out their activities explains that a pathway called canonical Wnt signaling fosters cell growth and division, an important function for development in body cells. However there is danger in case there is over activity in this pathway as it encourages cancer cell formation.
The question to whether high cholesterol levels is a risk factor to cancer did not erupt yesterday, doctors and researchers have been trying to find out why women who had heart disease risk factors in most cases developed breast cancer. It is on the sought for this answer that drove many cancer researchers to try and find out the possible link between cholesterol and cancer development. The current research findings prove that high cholesterol levels especially the low density lipoproteins (LPD) commonly known as the bad cholesterol play an important role in cancer formation and metastasis.
A research study done in 2008 by Philip Shaul who is a pediatrician and biologist at the University of Texas and Donald McDonnell who a cancer biologist at the Duke University is showed how a cholesterol product known as 27HC promotes the growth of cancer cell in the human breasts. This according to the research happens because the estrogen hormone normally binds to proteins called receptors inside tumors promoting its growth.
The two scientists went further to demonstrate to the masses how high levels of cholesterol can improve the growth of cancer cells. In an experiment where mice were used, it was found that 27HC improved the growth of cancer cells through collaboration with the estrogen receptor. The study also found out that the 27HC levels were higher in the healthy breast tissues of women with breast cancer than women that were not suffering from breast cancer. The levels of 27HC were also found to be high in tumor cells.
Shaul further found out that the absence or low levels of enzymes that help in breaking down of 27HC in tumors reduced the chances of survival of cancer patients. Working with his cancer patients, shaul realized that patients who had low level of the enzyme that helps in breaking down of the 27HC had slim chances of survival. Collaborating in the same experiment Mc Donnell fed mice with high cholesterol and high fat diet. The mice became more likely to die of cancer than other mice on normal diet. Sergio Dias endorses the findings that high cholesterol levels promote cancer cell growth. Dias is a biologist at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Lisbon.
Despite the many research studies that have been done to prove the contribution of high cholesterol levels in cancer formation and growth, it is still not clear how blood cholesterol levels may affect breast cancer risk this is so because the findings did not prove any consistency in link between 27HC levels in human tumors and blood cholesterol levels. However, Shaul advises that women with high cholesterol levels were at higher risk of breast cancer.
This research will help in cancer treatment. Other previous researches had found out that drugs that are used in lowering levels of cholesterol could be used in cancer treatment. Today there are women with breast cancer but have refused to respond positively to drugs that inhibit the production of estrogen. Shaul opines that in that case the growth of the cancer cells may be promoted by something else other than the estrogen hormones.
In Conclusion
Cancer is a lifestyle disease that has caused hurt to the world population. It is however controllable when you take the necessary measures. With the recent research findings pointing out the risks associated with high levels of cholesterol especially the low density lipoproteins (LDP). It is better to reduce or better yet stop eating foods that are rich in cholesterols as they will expose you to high risks of cancer. Substitute meat with vegetables and fruits. Increase the number of vegetable servings as you decrease the amounts of meat as even the lean meat still has high levels of cholesterol. When you buy cooking fat, go for the cholesterol free fats.
You also need to get frequent updates on cancer so as to adopt a healthier lifestyle that is cancer free. Dr. Dalal Akoury has a website that provides you with reliable information about cancer that can help you stay cancer free. Contact her and be empowered to live a cancer free life.
High Cholesterol Levels Beckons Cancer
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