More sleep reduces breast cancer risk

October 22, 2005
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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In this issue
	Life Extension Update Exclusive
		More sleep reduces breast cancer risk
	Protocol
		Insomnia and daytime sleepiness
	Featured Products
		Melatonin capsules
		Natural Sleep
	Life Extension Foundation
		What is the Life Extension Foundation?

Life Extension Update Exclusive

More sleep reduces breast cancer risk

A study reported in the October 15 2005 issue of the journal Cancer Research is the first to reveal an association between greater sleep length and a reduced incidence of breast cancer.

Researchers in Finland examined data obtained in the Finnish Twin Cohort, which includes over 32,000 twins born before 1958. The current study involved 12,222 female participants who replied to one or more questions concerning sleep duration, quality and sufficiency in 1975 or 1981. Data on breast cancer diagnoses from 1976 to 1996 was obtained from the Finnish Cancer Registry.

During the 30 year period 242 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed. Although women who were classified as having short sleep duration of six hours or less had a modestly lower breast cancer risk than that experienced by those with an average sleep duration of 7 to 8 hours, women who were categorized as long sleepers experienced a 31 percent reduction in the risk of breast cancer compared to average sleepers.

In a separate analysis of 7,396 so-called stable sleepers, whose answers on sleep duration in 1981 were unchanged from those of 1975, short sleepers experienced a 10 percent greater risk of breast cancer than average sleepers, while long sleepers experienced a significant 72 percent reduction compared to average sleepers. The separate analysis was conducted in recognition of the impact of long-term factors on breast cancer risk.

The authors hypothesized that sleep patterns may influence breast cancer risk via changes in melatonin and other hormonal rhythms, and acknowledged that the greater prevalence of artificial lighting at night could be a contributor to the current increase in breast cancer incidence via its ability to reduce melatonin levels. In their discussion of the current study’s findings, they cite studies that support this hypothesis, such as several that have found an association between night shift work and breast cancer risk, or those that have determined a reduction in risk among blind women. They conclude, “The suggestion of lower breast cancer risk in long sleepers in the Finnish Twin Cohort adds to the body of evidence for a possible anticarcinogenic effect of melatonin.”

Protocol

Insomnia and daytime sleepiness

Sleep is absolutely essential for repair and rejuvenation, and those with chronic insomnia must find a solution in order to maintain quality of life. Most people don't know that chronic insomnia predisposes people to early death. Therefore, from a perspective of extending life, it is absolutely essential that good sleep patterns be restored.

As people age, their sleep quality often undergoes significant deterioration, commonly characterized by frequent and longer-lasting nighttime awakenings. In many older people, sleep disturbance is correlated with a decline in melatonin secretion. A number of published studies also show that decreased melatonin production is also associated with the onset of a host of degenerative diseases.

One report discusses the role of melatonin in reversing partially degraded proteins that lead to the accumulation of lipofuscin (age-pigments in the skin and the brain), cataracts, and crosslinked collagen. The scientist who wrote this article stated that the nighttime rise in melatonin is one way the body "cleans" itself of partially glycated proteins (Yin 2000). If this hypothesis is correct, it helps explain the numerous published studies showing that melatonin protects against a wide range of aging-related diseases.

After darkness, young pineal glands secrete melatonin slowly for about 5 hours to enable the body to enter the various stages of deep sleep, so people can feel revitalized and rejuvenated the next morning. Further, melatonin supplementation has been shown in many scientific studies to be a safe and effective sleep-enhancing therapy (Brown 1994; Garfinkel et al. 1995; Haimov et al. 1995; Zhdanova et al. 1995; Zisapel 1999).

https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/lifestyle-longevity/insomnia

Featured Products

Melatonin 3 milligram capsules

Melatonin releases from the pineal gland, reaching its peak at night to help maintain tissues in a youthful state of health. Secretion of melatonin declines significantly with age, as the pineal gland becomes calcified.

Melatonin keeps our circadian cycle in tune as it communicates with the body’s cells. Not only does this hormone work to maintain cell health, it appears to regulate a system of self-repair and regeneration. When this hard-working hormone is diminished, our biological functions are impaired.

https://www.lifeextension.com/newshop/items/item00330.html

Natural Sleep

Many people use melatonin to help improve sleep. Some research has found that melatonin increases the speed of falling asleep and adds to the quality of sleep in about 60% of people who use it.

Natural Sleep is Life Extension’s premier sleep-enhancing melatonin formula. Natural Sleep duplicates the body’s own secretion of melatonin which occurs naturally in youth. It contains high quality melatonin, along with synergistic sleep-enhancing nutrient cofactors.

https://www.lifeextension.com/newshop/items/item00277.html

What is the Life Extension Foundation?

The Life Extension Foundation is one of the world’s largest organizations dedicated to finding scientific methods for addressing disease, aging, and death. The Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit group that funds pioneering scientific research aimed at achieving an indefinitely extended healthy human lifespan. The fruits of this research are used to develop novel disease prevention and treatment protocols.

New medical information is being uncovered at an exponential rate. Members of The Life Extension Foundation learn about medical breakthroughs years before the general public. If you are concerned about your health and longevity, we highly recommend that you join the nonprofit Life Extension Foundation.

https://www.lifeextension.com/about/about-life-extension

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