Role of Height in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Journal of Chinese Clinical Medicine Volume 5 | Number 2 | February 2010
Role of Height in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Thomas T. Samaras
[Abstract]
Findings are presented showing how height relates to cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The preponderance of evidence shows that height is positively correlated with cancer. However, studies on height and CVD are not consistent, and the causes for this conflict are explored. The role of nutrition in promoting rapid growth, greater height and chronic diseases is also discussed. The interrelationships among increasing birth weight, rapid growth in height and weight, obesity, cancer and CVD are also reviewed. Biological mechanisms are presented to explain how height is related to cancer and CVD.
Key words: height; cancer; cardiovascular disease; nutrition; biological mechanisms; telomeres
For the full text of the article click here.
“These findings support an adverse effect of relative “over-nutriton” in infancy on long-term cardiovascular disease risk......and do not support the promotion of faster weight gain in infants born small for gestational age.”
A new article in Carnegie Council for Ethics
Publications of Interest
Wilhelmsen and colleagues tracked 67-year old men to 90 years of age and found that men who were shorter at 67 years tended to have better survival than taller men. See page 8 in Wilhelmsen L, Svardsudd K, Eriksson H, et al. Factors associated with reaching 90 years of age: a study of men born in 1913 in Gothenburg, Sweden. J Intern Med 2011; 269:441-451. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02331
An Article in the Indian Heart Journal
Tom’s review of research findings on the health risks related to higher birth weight, rapid growth, early maturation and taller stature was recently published in the Women’s Health Bulletin. See: Samaras TT. Health risks of higher birth weight, rapid growth, early maturation and taller height. Women’s Health Bulletin. 2015 July; 2(3):e26805
An Italian Study Confirms Tom’s findings
Important findings from Sardinia show that shorter people live longer. The new study, authored by Salaris, Poulain and Samaras was recently published by the journal Biodemography and Social Biology.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is responsible for 126,000 deaths per year. A large Harvard study found that good nutrition can help you avoid this disease. For example, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish promote healthy lungs and reduce the risk. In contrast, refined grains, red meat, and cured meats increase the risk.
Source: Harvard Men’s Health Watch, 2010, vol 14, No. 7, pp 1-3.
