(NaturalNews) People who use drugs called statins to drastically lower their LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels may have a slightly higher risk of cancer, according to a study published in the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology.Researchers looked at summary data from 13 different studies that had examined the relationship between statin use and cancer, with a total participant pool of 41,173. Among those with the lowest LDL levels, the researchers detected a 0.1 percent increase in
cancer risk -- or one extra case per 1,000 people.
The researchers were unable to determine what actually causes the increased
risk -- whether it is the drugs, the lowered
cholesterol or an unknown third factor. According to the British Heart Foundation, there has long been a known correlation between low
cholesterol levels and increased cancer risk.
"The analysis doesn't implicate the statin in increasing the risk of
cancer," said lead author Richard Karas of Tufts University School of Medicine, cautioning that the benefits of
statins still outweigh the risks.
Cancer Research UK expressed skepticism about the validity of the study's results. "The findings of this study should be treated with caution," said Dr. Alison Ross, the organization's cancer information officer. "It is based on summary data from previous trials and, as the authors point out themselves, it does not prove that low LDL cholesterol levels can increase cancer risk."
A number of prior
studies have concluded that statins to do not increase cancer risk, and a 2005 study actually found a 50-percent lower risk of colorectal cancer among patients who used statins for more than 5 years.
"Cancer risk is not the primary concern with
statin drugs," said consumer
health advocate Mike Adams. "It's the hijacking of the liver and the blocking of the production of healthy cholesterol that concerns me. I've known people who were nearly killed by statin
drugs. It's the non-cancer side effects that are the most dangerous," Adams said.
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
people have commented on this article.
Email this article to a friend
Share this article on: 
Now Available from 
