Dr. Raphael Cuomo, a professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine who’s work I’ve mentioned previously, called my attention to a fascinating recent paper he wrote. It is about “nutritional epidemiology risk–survival paradox”, for which the term “Cuomo’s Paradox” has also been coined. There is also a good summary of the paradox in this youtube video. To summarize, there are health and nutrition recommendations to reduce the risk of acquiring conditions like cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. But the paradox is that if you already have one of these diseases, these same recommendations can become contraindicated because they can now increase the risk of dying from the disease. An important exemple is obesity, which is well known as a risk factor. But carrying some extra pounds can be protective after you already have a disease.
Evidence for more effects like this (like the effects of alcohol and cholesterol) are covered in the paper. Dr. Cuomo is careful to point out that we may not yet have enough information to change health recommendations, but more research is definitely needed on this intriguing paradox. Here is a link to the full text in the Journal of Nutrition.
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