Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men; however, this form of cancer is particularly widespread in the West, where diets tend to be high in cholesterol, compared to rural parts of China and Japan, where low-fat diets are custom. Such findings have steered doctors to suspect that diet, via cholesterol levels, plays a crucial role in the development and prevention of prostate cancer.

By injecting human prostate cancer cells into mice, researchers were able to develop a clearer understanding of how cholesterol levels directly affect tumor cells. They monitored the behavior of the cells in the mice and found:

• Cholesterol accumulated in the outer membranes of tumor cells in mice that were fed high-cholesterol diets.

• This cholesterol buildup appeared to change chemical signaling patterns within the cells.

• Due to the altered signaling patterns, cells resisted signals telling them to commit suicide and continued to multiply in an uncontrolled fashion.

• Six weeks after being injected with the tumor cells, mice on high-cholesterol diets had twice as many tumors--which were also bigger in size--compared to mice following ordinary diets.

Lowering Cholesterol Levels

Researchers also found that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may be responsible for inhibiting prostate cancer growth; however, such drugs have been linked to a number of adverse health effects such as weakness, muscle aches and immune system suppression.

Due to these dangers, men are encouraged to adopt a healthy low-cholesterol diet and an active lifestyle to maintain optimal cholesterol levels.

Journal of Clinical Investigation March 17, 2005

BBC News March 18, 2005

Guest Comment by Dr. Larry Clapp:

This study confirms years of clinical experience that obesity and high cholesterol contribute to prostate cancer. In fact, a number of studies have established the obesity correlation with prostate cancer.

High cholesterol, as well as obesity, is known to raise estrogen in men, a principal cause of prostate cancer. When male estrogen increases, testosterone decreases. So what does testosterone have to do with prostate cancer? Well, men must have high levels of testosterone not only for healthy bones, a clear brain and a healthy sex life, but also to maintain a healthy prostate.

Studies have found that men with low testosterone have osteoporosis, while men with high testosterone prevent prostate problems.

Healthy Living, Not Statins, Cure Prostate Symptoms

Now, let‘s delve a little deeper into the topic at hand: The use of statins to help lower cholesterol levels, which in turn reduces your risk of prostate cancer ...

When you take statins to prevent or even cure prostate cancer, you are just asking for increased prostate symptoms. This is because--in addition to Dr Mercola‘s excellent articles on the dangers of using statin drugs--our clinical experience confirms that statins cause BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy, which ultimately becomes prostate cancer), prostatitis and prostate cancer, as well as their associated symptoms.

For years we have regularly seen prostate symptoms disappear when men eliminate the use of statins and instead follow the basic cleansing and good nutrition principles of Dr. Mercola‘s Total Health Program. Additionally, Prostate PCD Sonograms confirm shrinking of the prostate, as well as healthier blood flows in the prostate, when statins are discontinued.

You see, when you quit relying on a pill to solve your problems and instead learn to pay attention to the message your body is trying to give you, you can find out what changes you need to make and then begin to find the cause(s) and true healing.

Dr. Larry Clapp is the author of bestselling Prostate Health in 90 Days Without Drugs or Surgery. When diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990, Dr. Clapp made a firm decision to deflect falling victim to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy and instead focused on researching the self-healing alternatives to treating prostate cancer. During his seven years of intensive research, Dr. Clapp developed expertise in cleansing, nutritional healing, pH balancing, herbology, homeopathy, bodywork and energetic and spiritual healing. Combining the best of these healing arts, he developed a successful treatment program for prostate cancer, which he used to cure himself.

He earned his J.D. degree at the University of Michigan Law School in 1963 and later obtained his Ph.D. at Galien University in London in 1996.

Today, Dr. Clapp is cancer-free and uses his research to aid others in treating and curing their prostate cancer without succumbing to harmful drugs or surgery.

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