Lowering your cholesterol may decrease your risk of prostate cancer

Current research suggests that lowering cholesterol may block the growth of prostate tumors. The related report by Solomon et al, “Ezetimibe Is an Inhibitor of Tumor Angiogenesis,” appears in the March 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.High cholesterol not only leads to atherosclerosis and heart disease, but may also contribute to cancer growth and progression. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the United States, affecting approximately 1 in 6 men. Prostate tumors accumulate high levels of cholesterol, and tumor incidence correlates with eating a high fat/high cholesterol diet “Western” diet. In addition, prostate tumor progression has been linked to serum cholesterol levels.

The article from Solomon et al suggests “that cholesterol reduction, which is routinely accomplished pharmacologically in humans, may reduce angiogenesis, ultimately leading to less aggressive tumors.” “Lowering cholesterol levels whether through diet, exercise, or the use of safe cholesterol-lowering drugs is known to provide a substantial benefit to patients-in the future it may be possible to add reduced risk of serious prostate cancer to that list of benefits”