Serum cholesterol concentration and risk of brain cancer

Two recent epidemiological studies have reported a positive relation between cholesterol concentration and brain cancer. In one cholesterol concentration was measured at the time of diagnosis,1 and in the other mortality was observed five or more years after the measurement.2 In both studies brain cancer could have influenced cholesterol concentration. The Kaiser Permanente medical care programme obtained serum cholesterol measurements in roughly 160000 members as part of multiphasic health examinations conducted during 1964–72. We examined the risk of developing malignant brain cancer five or more years after the cholesterol measurement to evaluate further their relation. The participants were members of the Northern California programme who were aged 15 years and over and had completed a multiphasic health examination during 1964–72.3 Follow up began five years after the date of the cholesterol measurement, so …