Statins significantly lower rates of breast cancer, study finds

THERE is a “strong indication” that taking statins is linked to lower rates of breast cancer, claims Birmingham researchers.

A 14-year study of more than one million women found those with high cholesterol were 45 per cent less likely to develop the illness, while the mortality rate of sufferers with high cholesterol was 40 per cent less.

Dr Rahul Potluri, of Aston Medical School in Birmingham, said: “If a diagnosis of high cholesterol leads to lower breast cancer rates this must either relate to something inherent in the condition or affected patients, or more likely, to treatment with widely used cholesterol-lowering interventions such as statins.”

Lead author Dr Paul Carter, of Aston University, said: “Women with a diagnosis of high cholesterol have strikingly lower rates of breast cancer with improved death rates and survival.

“This gives a strong indication that statins produce this protective effect in breast cancer.”

The link between high cholesterol and low incidence of breast cancer has been “fascinating

Women with a diagnosis of high cholesterol have strikingly lower rates of breast cancer Dr Paul Carter, of Aston University

researchers for to Dr Potluri.

He said: “This is the most conclusive and direct evidence as yet to confirm the link... showing that patients with high cholesterol have a lower risk of developing breast cancer and subsequent mortality in a longitudinal study like this provides the strongest evidence for a protective effect, which is likely related to statins.”

He added: “I don’t think at the moment we can give statins to prevent or reduce mortality from breast cancer per se. But a positive result in a clinical trial could change this and it is an exciting and rapidly progressing field.” years” according