Keeping Cholesterol In Check May Decrease Risk Of Breast Cancer | HuffPost Life

Cholesterol Increases Risk Of Breast Cancer

PA/The Huffington Post UK

A by-product of cholesterol fuels the growth and spread of breast cancer, research has shown.

Scientists also discovered that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs can reduce its harmful effects.

Modifying diet, or taking statins, to lower cholesterol could provide a straightforward way to lower breast cancer risk, they believe.

Previous studies had already shown a link between raised cholesterol and breast cancer, but one that could not be explained.

The new US research, conducted on mice, shows for the first time how a breakdown product of cholesterol called 27HC drives breast cancer by mimicking the effects of the hormone oestrogen.

Three quarters of breast cancers are sensitive to oestrogen, which stimulates tumour growth.

Story continues below the slideshow:

Good Cholesterol Foods

Oats And Barley(01 of12)

When it comes to heart health, we can't stop singing the praises of oatmeal. But other grains, like barley, are also healthy picks. Both are packed with fiber -- which helps keep you full for longer so you reach for the chips less. But fiber does more than just keep you slim. Soluble fiber, the kind that the body can digest, seems to reduce the amount of cholesterol the body absorbs from the intestines, lowering total cholesterol and LDL or "bad" cholesterol in the process.Flickr photo by Mr. T in DC (credit:Flickr:Mr. T in DC)

Fish(02 of12)

You might think that fatty fish could be detrimental to your ticker, but the right seafood can lower cholesterol for a couple of reasons. First, eating more fish might mean that you're replacing meat in your diet, and meat contains more LDL-boosting saturated fats. Second, fish like salmon, sardines and albacore tuna are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to lower triglycerides.Flickr photo by DesheBoard (credit:Flickr:DesheBoard)

Nuts(03 of12)

Toss them in salads, sprinkle them on oatmeal or snack on them by the perfectly-portioned handful. Just about any variety of nut can lower total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels, according to a 2010 analysis of data from 25 studies on nut consumption.Flickr photo by tvol (credit:Flickr:tvol)

Olive Oil(04 of12)

Swapping the saturated fats found in butter for the unsaturated ones in oils is a good idea for both your waistline and your heart. Doing so can help reduce total cholesterol, but using olive oil in particular may also increase HDL, or "good" cholesterol. (credit:Alamy)

Apples(05 of12)

A medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of LDL-lowering soluble fiber, or about 17 percent of your recommended daily intake. An apple a day can keep the heart doctor away!Flickr photo by manitou2121 (credit:Flickr:manitou2121)

Strawberries(06 of12)

Strawberries are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that can lower LDL. One study found that supplementing a heart-healthy diet with strawberries had similar results to adding oats to a heart-healthy diet -- and tasted better, too!Flickr photo by Plinkk (credit:Flickr:Plinkk)

Citrus Fruits(07 of12)

You'll also find pectin in oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits. And adding more fiber to your diet can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation, both of which help your heart.Flickr photo by little blue hen (credit:Flickr:little blue hen)

Beans And Lentils(08 of12)

Kidney, navy, garbanzos -- your favorite beans and lentils are all great sources of soluble fiber, which helps keep you full and can reduce cholesterol. A 2008 study from Arizona State University found that people who ate a half-cup of beans a day (at the time, the recommended amount according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans) over a 24-week period lowered their cholesterol by 8 percent. If you eat around 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day, aim for a cup and a half to two cups of beans a week.Flickr photo by tomcensani (credit:Flickr:tomcensani)

Soy(09 of12)

Like with fish, if you're eating soy, chances are you're eating less meat, which is higher in saturated fat and cholesterol. Soy is unique in the fact that it's a great source of protein, and yet it's free of any animal products, so it's also cholesterol free. However, it's not the cholesterol-busting superpower it was once touted to be. A 2010 study found that eating soy can result in a moderate 8 to 10 percent decrease in total cholesterol.Flickr photo by Rooey202 (credit:Flickr:Rooey202)

Red Wine(10 of12)

You probably already know that a little alcohol -- in moderation of course -- is good for you. Part of the reason why? A 2000 study established that occasion clinking of glasses can raise HDL, or "good" cholesterol.Red wine may be particularly beneficial, since it's rich in antioxidants, which may lower LDL levels.Flickr photo by Dinner Series (credit:Flickr:Dinner Series)

Avocados(11 of12)

Like olive oil, avocados are rich in cholesterol-lowering unsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats, the ones found in the creamy green fruit, may lower LDL and raise HDL -- but probably only if you are replacing unhealthier dietary fats with these heart-healthy ones.Flickr photo by annethelibrarian (credit:Flickr:annethelibrarian)

Green Tea(12 of12)

The miracle drink has been linked to everything from fighting cancer to keeping the mind sharp, but few studies have truly explained why green tea is such a powerful health elixir and just how much of it you'd need to drink to see results. While it does appear to lower "bad" cholesterol, it's only a slight reduction -- and you'd probably have to drink quite a few mugs full to see a difference. Chugging green tea isn't a good idea for everyone; it can interfere with some medications.Flickr photo by Qfamily (credit:Flickr:Qfamily)

Lead scientist Dr Donald McDonnell, from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, said:

"A lot of studies have shown a connection between obesity and breast cancer, and specifically that elevated cholesterol is associated with breast cancer risk, but no mechanism has been identified.

"What we have now found is a molecule - not cholesterol itself, but an abundant metabolite of cholesterol - called 27HC that mimics the hormone oestrogen and can independently drive the growth of breast cancer."

See Also:
National Cholesterol Week: How To Prevent And Lower High Cholesterol
How To Lower Cholesterol: New Drug 'Cuts Cholesterol Levels Up To Almost 60%

Earlier research from Dr McDonnell's laboratory confirmed that 27HC - full name 27-hydroxycholesterol - behaves like oestrogen in animals.

The latest study, published in the journal Science, found that daily injections of 27HC caused the tumours of mice with breast cancer to grow and spread more rapidly.

Further work on laboratory samples of human cancer cells showed the most aggressive produced higher levels of an enzyme that generates 27HC from cholesterol.

"The worse the tumours, the more they have of the enzyme," said co-author Dr Erik Nelson, also from Duke University.

Feeding mice the statin drug atorvastatin both reduced their circulating cholesterol levels and tumour growth.

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The research also revealed a potential link between 27HC and the development of resistance to the widely-used breast drug tamoxifen, which blocks the cancer-fuelling effects of oestrogen.

"This is a very significant finding," said Dr McDonnell.

"Human breast tumours, because they express this enzyme to make 27HC, are making an oestrogen-like molecule that can promote the growth of the tumour. In essence, the tumours have developed a mechanism to use a different source of fuel."

As well as reducing cancer risk, keeping cholesterol in check with a healthy diet or by taking statins may delay resistance to hormonal breast cancer therapies, he added.

Clinical trials are now needed to investigate whether breast cancer really can be tackled by targeting cholesterol, said the scientists, who suggested that 27HC may also play a role in other cancers.

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