Lipophilic statins such as atorvastatin and simvastatin can stop people with chronic liver disease from going on to develop liver cancer, new research has shared.
Academics from Harvard Medical School have discovered that using statins protected adults with chronic liver disease from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – the most common type of primary liver cancer.
HCC is currently the most common cause of death in people with cirrhosis and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
With cases of metabolic and alcohol-related liver diseases on the rise, experts have emphasised the importance of creating new strategies to prevent the development of HCC among those living with these conditions.
Prior research has shown that statins have antioxidant, antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Alarming number of people refusing statins
- Statin pills can prevent 15 million people from cardiovascular disease
- Cardiovascular conditions not harmful for ‘oldest of old’ people
During the trial, the team of researchers looked at the health data of 16,501 middle-aged adults from hospitals within the Mass General Brigham health care system.
All the participants had chronic liver disease and were divided into two groups: statin users and nonusers.
Incidences of HCC were 4.2% lower among people using statins compared to the nonusers, the results have indicated.
In addition, the findings have shown that the risk of hepatic decompensation dropped to 10.6% among statin users and to 19.5% among nonusers.
According to the researchers, lipophilic statins provided the strongest protective effects, reducing HCC risk by 36%.
Meanwhile, hydrophilic statins such as rosuvastatin and pravastatin reduced HCC risk by 21%, the study has reported.
To read the study, click here.
