Researchers have found that statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering medication, are associated with a reduced risk of developing liver cancer. A new study published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, investigated whether other non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs have similar effects.
The study, led by Katherine A. McGlynn, PhD, MPH, analyzed data from the UK Primary Care Records database and found that two classes of medications – statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors – were linked to a lower risk of liver cancer. Statin use was associated with a 35% lower odds of liver cancer risk, while cholesterol absorption inhibitor use was linked to a 31% lower risk.
However, not all non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs showed similar effects. Fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, and niacin did not have significant associations with liver cancer risk. Bile acid sequestrants were associated with a higher risk of liver cancer in the overall analysis, but results were inconsistent when analyzing data by diabetes and liver disease status.
The study’s findings suggest that statins may be effective in preventing liver cancer. However, further research is needed to confirm these results and understand how cholesterol-lowering medications can help prevent this type of cancer.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/non-statin-cholesterol-lowering-drug-linked-to-lower-cancer-risk