Gastric cancer

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