A new study has found that a type of non-statin cholesterol-lowering drug might reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.
This exciting discovery was made by researchers from the National Cancer Institute and published online in the journal Cancer.
Previous studies have shown that statin drugs, commonly used to lower cholesterol, can also lower the risk of liver cancer.
This new research focused on non-statin cholesterol-lowering medications, including cholesterol absorption inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants, fibrates, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
The study, led by Dr. Katherine A. McGlynn, used data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), which covers about 7% of the UK population. The researchers analyzed information from 3,719 liver cancer patients and 14,876 people without cancer. They also matched participants based on type 2 diabetes and chronic liver disease status.
The key finding was that using cholesterol absorption inhibitors was linked to a 31% lower risk of liver cancer. This reduced risk was consistent even when considering participants’ diabetes and liver disease status. The study also confirmed that statins were associated with a 35% lower risk of liver cancer.
Interestingly, no link was found between liver cancer risk and the use of fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, or niacin. Bile acid sequestrants were associated with higher odds of liver cancer in the overall analysis, but the results were inconsistent when considering diabetes and liver disease status. This suggests that more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Dr. McGlynn emphasized the need for further studies to replicate these results in different populations. If confirmed, these findings could significantly impact liver cancer prevention strategies.
In summary, this study suggests that certain non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs, particularly cholesterol absorption inhibitors, may help reduce the risk of liver cancer. This discovery opens new avenues for liver cancer prevention research and highlights the importance of managing cholesterol levels for overall health.
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