Sphingolipids are an important type of fat found in milk and dairy ingredients. Long-term feeding of sphingolipids (1%) to laboratory rats significantly decreased total blood cholesterol levels by about 30%. Studies also indicate that sphingolipids may influence cell regulation pertaining to carcinogenesis. Sphingomyelin is one of the sphingolipids founds in cow’s milk. Studies in laboratory mice indicate that dietary sphingomyelin may combat colon cancer. Researchers propose that sphingolipids inhibit the growth and metastasis of tumor cells and transform precancerous cells to more normal cells.