Men who die from cancer have lower cholesterol levels

This study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology 1980 Sep;112(3):388-94

 

Study title and authors:

Total serum cholesterol and cancer mortality in a middle-aged male population.

Cambien F, Ducimetiere P, Richard J.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7424886

This study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and death from cancer. The study included 7,603 men, aged 43-52 years, who were followed for an average of 6.6 years.

The study found:
(a) Those who died from cancer had lower cholesterol levels than those who survived.
(b) Cholesterol levels increased steadily with survival time.

Mobile (cell) phones associated with a 70% increased risk of malignant brain tumours

This study was published in the International Journal of Oncology 2013 Dec;43(6):1833-45

 

Study title and authors:

Case-control study of the association between malignant brain tumours diagnosed between 2007 and 2009 and mobile and cordless phone use.

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Mild KH.

Department of Oncology, University Hospital, SE-701 85 Örebro, Sweden.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24064953

Hardell notes that when mobile (cell) and cordless phones are used they emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) and the brain is the main target organ for the handheld phone. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified in May, 2011 RF-EMF as a group 2B, i.e. a 'possible' human carcinogen.

The aim of this study was to further explore the relationship between especially long-term use of wireless (mobile and cordless) phones and the development of malignant brain tumours. The study included 593 patients, aged 18-75 years, with a malignant brain tumour and 1,386 controls.

The study found:
(a) Use of a wireless phones (mobile or cordless) was associated with a 70% increased risk of malignant brain tumours.
(b) Use of a wireless phones (mobile or cordless) for more than 25 years was associated with a 200% increased risk of malignant brain tumours.

Hardell concluded: "This study confirmed previous results of an association between mobile and cordless phone use and malignant brain tumours. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that RF-EMFs play a role both in the initiation and promotion stages of carcinogenesis".

Animal protein intake is associated with higher-level functional capacity in elderly adults

This study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society 2014 Mar;62(3):426-34

 

Study title and authors:

Animal protein intake is associated with higher-level functional capacity in elderly adults: the ohasama study.

Imai E, Tsubota-Utsugi M, Kikuya M, Satoh M, Inoue R, Hosaka M, Metoki H, Fukushima N, Kurimoto A, Hirose T, Asayama K, Imai Y, Ohkubo T.

Section of the Dietary Reference Intakes, Department of Nutritional Epidemiology, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24576149

The objective of the study was to determine the association between protein intake and risk of higher-level functional decline in older adults. The study lasted for seven years and included 1,007 participants, average age 67.4 years, who were free of functional decline at the start of the study.

The study found:
(a) Men who consumed the most animal protein had a 59% reduced risk of higher-level functional decline compared to men who consumed the least animal protein.
(b) Women who consumed the most animal protein had a 24% reduced risk of higher-level functional decline compared to women who consumed the least animal protein.
(c) No consistent association was observed between plant protein intake and future higher-level functional decline in either sex.

Higher animal protein intake is associated with lower risk of decline in higher-level functional capacity in elderly adults.

Evidence from 72 studies shows that saturated fat does not cause heart disease

This study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 2014;160(6):398-406-406

Study title and authors:
Association of Dietary, Circulating, and Supplement Fatty Acids With Coronary Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis                                                                    

Rajiv Chowdhury, MD, PhD; Samantha Warnakula, MPhil; Setor Kunutsor, MD, MSt; Francesca Crowe, PhD; Heather A. Ward, PhD; Laura Johnson, PhD; Oscar H. Franco, MD, PhD; Adam S. Butterworth, PhD; Nita G. Forouhi, MRCP, PhD; Simon G. Thompson, FMedSci; Kay-Tee Khaw, FMedSci; Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH; John Danesh, FRCP; and Emanuele Di Angelantonio, MD, PhD

This study can be accessed at: http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1846638

This review led by Dr Rajiv Chowdhury from the University of Cambridge, notes that current "official" dietary guidelines advocate that high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats are recommended to prevent heart disease.

The purpose of this review was to summarise evidence about associations between different fats and coronary heart disease. The review included 72 studies from 18 countries with a total of 659,298 participants.

 

The study found:

(a) Current evidence does not support guidelines which restrict the consumption of saturated fats in order to prevent heart disease.

(b) There is insufficient support for guidelines which advocate the high consumption of polyunsaturated fats (such as omega 3 and omega 6) to reduce the risk of coronary disease.

 

Dr Chowdhury states: "These are interesting results that potentially stimulate new lines of scientific inquiry and encourage careful reappraisal of our current nutritional guidelines".

For more detailed appraisals of the above study please see:
http://www.drbriffa.com/2014/03/21/yet-another-major-review-finds-no-reason-at-all-to-limit-saturated-fat-in-the-diet/

and also:
http://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2014/03/19/although-now-dead-the-cholesterolosaurus-will-march-on/

Statins increase the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2007 Mar 28;297(12):1344-53

 

Study title and authors:

Effect of rosuvastatin on progression of carotid intima-media thickness in low-risk individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis: the METEOR Trial.

Crouse JR 3rd, Raichlen JS, Riley WA, Evans GW, Palmer MK, O'Leary DH, Grobbee DE, Bots ML; METEOR Study Group.

Department of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. jrcrouse@wfubmc.edu

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17384434

This study investigated the effects of statins in participants with a low risk of heart disease. The two year study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 984 individuals, average age 57 years. The participants received either a daily 40-mg dose of rosuvastatin or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Cholesterol levels reduced by 33% in the statin users and remained the same in those on placebo.
(b) Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels reduced by 49% in the statin users and remained the same in those on placebo.
(c) Statin users had a 21% increased risk of death compared to placebo.
(d) Statin users had a 423% increased risk of a serious adverse cardiovascular event compared to placebo.
(e) Statin users had a 4% increased risk of any adverse event compared to placebo.
(f) Statin users had a 5% increased risk of developing cancer compared to placebo.
(g) Statin users had a 5% increased risk of muscle pain compared to placebo.
(h) Statin users had a 121% increased risk of elevated liver enzymes compared to placebo.
(i) Statin users had a 56% increased risk of developing arthritis compared to placebo.

Low LDL cholesterol levels are associated with reduced survival in elderly patients with heart failure

This study was published in Cardiology 2014;127(1):45-50

Study title and authors:
Low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a negative predictor of survival in elderly patients with advanced heart failure.

Charach G, Rabinovich A, Ori A, Weksler D, Sheps D, Charach L, Weintraub M, George J.
The Department of Internal Medicine 'C', Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24217704

This study aimed to examine the impact of statins and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels on survival rates in elderly patients with moderate and severe heart failure. The study included 212 patients, average age 77 years, who were followed for 3.7 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to LDL cholesterol levels:
(i) Group one had LDL cholesterol levels less than 90 mg/dL (2.32 mmol/l).
(ii) Group two had LDL cholesterol levels between 90-115 mg/dL (2.32-3.00 mmol/l).
(iii) Group three had LDL cholesterol levels above 115 mg/dL (3.00 mmol/l).

The study found:
(a) The total cholesterol levels of group one patients was 31% lower than group three patients.
(b) Group one patients were over twice as likely to be on statins than group three patients.
(c) Only 34% of group one patients survived longer than 50 months whereas 58% of group three patients survived longer than 50 months.

Charach concluded: "Low LDL cholesterol levels are associated with a reduced survival in elderly patients with clinically controlled moderate and severe heart failure. Statins were independently and significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality".