Cholesterol medicine could be the answer.
Recent studies have expanded on earlier findings that statin medications can reduce liver cancer risk by exploring the potential benefits of non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs. A recent investigation led by Katherine McGlynn from the U.S. National Cancer Institute examined health records from nearly 19,000 people tracked by the U.K.’s Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Among these individuals, about 3,700 had liver cancer, and their medication usage was compared with that of nearly 15,000 individuals without the disease.
The study discovered a notable correlation between the use of cholesterol absorption inhibitors—a class of non-statin medications—and a 31% lower risk of liver cancer. This association remained significant even after accounting for other risk factors such as diabetes and liver conditions. Additionally, the research confirmed that statins are linked to a 35% decrease in liver cancer risk.
Conversely, other cholesterol-lowering treatments, including fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, and niacin, did not show a meaningful effect on liver cancer risk. The impact of bile acid sequestrants on liver cancer risk was also unclear based on the study’s findings.
McGlynn emphasized that since there is limited research on the impact of non-statin cholesterol drugs on liver cancer risk, further studies are necessary to validate these results across different populations. She proposed that if future research confirms these findings, it could lead to new approaches for liver cancer prevention.
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