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Specific statins may lower the risk of liver cancer.
A study suggests that lipophilic statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin may reduce liver cancer risk in people with chronic liver disease. Statin users had a 33% lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a 22% lower risk of hepatic decompensation. Longer statin use was linked to better outcomes, especially for those with liver fibrosis and metabolic disorders. While promising, further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine statins' role in liver cancer prevention.
A recent study suggests that certain statins—particularly lipophilic statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin—may help lower the risk of liver cancer in individuals with chronic liver disease.
Study Findings:
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Statin users had a 33% lower risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to non-users.
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The 10-year cumulative incidence of HCC was 3.8% in statin users versus 8% in non-users.
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Statins also reduced the risk of hepatic decompensation, a severe stage of liver disease.
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Longer statin use was linked to better outcomes, with fewer patients progressing to advanced liver fibrosis.
How Statins May Help:
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Statins lower cholesterol but may also slow liver fibrosis progression, reducing the risk of liver cancer.
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The study found lipophilic statins to be more effective in reducing HCC risk than hydrophilic statins.
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People with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, cirrhosis, and dyslipidemia benefited the most from statin use.
Study Limitations & Future Research:
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The study was observational and not a randomized controlled trial.
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It included hospital-based participants, limiting its generalizability.
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More research is needed to confirm causation and understand how different statins impact liver cancer prevention.
Source:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/statin-alternatives#summary
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