Fatty Acid Composition of Erythrocyte Membranes Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

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See :

http://www.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/07/07.25/20010724clin019.html

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jul 24 - Women whose erythrocyte membranes

have elevated levels of

monounsaturated fats or a low saturation index are more likely than

other women to develop breast cancer,

according to a report published in the July 18th issue of the Journal of

the National Cancer Institute.

Findings from previous studies have suggested a link between the

saturation index — the ratio of stearic acid

to oleic acid — and the development of breast cancer, but these studies,

unlike the current one, were

retrospective in nature, the authors note.

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Other research has already showed reduced risk with high ratios of other

fats to linoleic acid. Most of those studies used monounsaturated oleic

acid as the competing fat. There have been other studies showing

anti-cancer effects from stearic acid but they were far from convincing.

The above study can't differentiate between some risk specific to

consumption of oleic acid, some benefit specific to stearic acid or some

other mechanism for which the saturation index is a proxy.

We do know that there isn't an obviously higher risk of breast cancer

among inhabitants of the mediterranean, especially those in Crete who

get up to half of their total calories as olive oil.

--

Bob Cruder

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The critical thing in life was to die a spiritual death. In order to do

so, one had to be free of Earthly ties. By passing on one's metaphysical

and physical genetics, one perpetuated one's Earthly karma. This was why

the sages had no biological children.