More evidence that comedy is good for you

Diabetes patients who watched half an hour of their favourite comedies each day raised their levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, and reduced inflammation in their blood vessels compared to those who didn’t.

Researchers split 20 high-risk diabetic patients —all with high blood pressure and high cholesterol — into two groups. Both groups were given standard diabetes medication, but over a year one watched comedy shows which they chose, while the other did not.

At the end of 12 months, levels of good HDL cholesterol had risen 26 per cent in the group that watched comedy but only 3 per cent in the control group. Another measure of inflammation and cardiovascular disease, decreased 66 per cent in the ‘laughter group’ but only 26 per cent among the others.

The report concluded: ‘Mirthful laughter may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes. Further studies need to be done to expand and elucidate these findings.’

Dr Lee Berk of California’s Loma Linda University, who led the research, said: ‘The best clinicians understand that there is an intrinsic physiological intervention brought about by positive emotions such as mirthful laughter, optimism and hope. Lifestyle choices have a significant impact on health and disease.’

The results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society in New Orleans this week.

Published: 22 Apr 2009