Study suggests low LDL-C and cancer link

For decades, reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels has been seen as the key measure in heart disease prevention, giving rise to a massive market for drugs that have this effect. However, the results of a new study have hinted that the issue may be more complex, by suggesting that low LDL-C levels may be associated with an increased risk of cancer.

The study, which is published in the current edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, was designed to establish how and why statins cause side effects, with particular attention being placed on damage to liver and muscle cells. In this regard, the results supported the view that use of multiple medications, as opposed to high-dose statins, minimized the risk of such events while providing the most effective therapy.

What the researchers did not expect to find was that low levels of LDL-C increased cancer risk by one additional incident per 1,000 patients, when compared to a group with elevated LDL-C serum levels. The finding, which is being examined in further studies focused on establishing if the observation is a drug side effect or due to low LDL concentration, was based on analysis of data from 41,173 patients in 13 treatment arms from randomized, controlled statin trials that were published before November 2005.