Laughter could help diabetes patients improve their cholesterol levels and lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, says a new study.

According to Lee Berk of Loma Linda University, who headed the study, "lifestyle choices have a significant impact on health and disease and these are choices which we and the patient exercise control relative to prevention and treatment."

Researchers divided 20 high-risk diabetic patients —all with hypertension and hyperlipidemia (a risk factor for cardiovascular disease)— into two groups. Both groups were given standard diabetes medication. Group L viewed 30 minutes of humor of their choosing, while Group C, the control group, did not. This went on for a year of treatments.

By two months into the study, the patients in the laughter group (Group L) had lower levels of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, both considered to be measures of stress. Stress is known to be deadly.

After the 12 months, HDL cholesterol (the good kind) had risen 26 percent in Group L but only 3 percent in the Group C. In another measure, C-reactive proteins, a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular disease, decreased 66 percent in the laughter group but only 26 percent in the control group.

"The best clinicians understand that there is an intrinsic physiological intervention brought about by positive emotions such as mirthful laughter, optimism and hope," Berk said.

Although, Berk said laughter can indeed be a good medicine and as valuable as the diabetes drugs, but insisted that more research is required to determine what these results mean.

(Agencies via Xinhua April 21, 2009)