WebMD Medical News Laura J. Martin, MD March 8, 2011 -- Higher
levels of HDL “good” cholesterol just may protect against colon
cancer, findings from a large European study suggest. More than
half a million people living in nine countries in Europe took
part in the research, designed to explore the impact of diet on
cancer risk. The analysis revealed that people with the highest
blood levels of HDL cholesterol had the lowest risk for
developing colon cancer. The association appeared to be
independent of other risk factors for the cancer, such as
obesity and poor diet. Each rise in HDL of around 16 mg/dL was
associated with a 22% reduction in colon cancer risk, after
adjusting for diet, lifestyle, and weight. “If these findings
are confirmed, HDL levels may be a useful indicator of colon
cancer risk, along with other risk factors that are already
known to us,” study co-researcher Bas Bueno-De-Mesquita, MD,
PhD, tells WebMD. An HDL of less than 40 mg/dL for men and 50
mg/dL for women is considered low by the Ame