Statins May Lower Liver Cancer Risk

rogerashford/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Millions of Americans take statins to help lower their cholesterol, but that daily statin may also cut their risk of liver cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers in the United Kingdom looked at nearly 1,200 people with liver cancer and compared them to 4,600 similar people without liver cancer, according to the study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers also compared each group in terms of their statin use.

What they found was that not only did taking a statin reduce the risk of liver cancer, but taking statins for a longer period of time or at a higher dose led to even greater risk reductions in current users.

The risk reduction was also greater in patients who had liver disease or risk factors for liver cancer, like diabetes, if currently using a statin.

Researchers say the findings are potentially important, since many people who need to take a statin also have other diseases which put them at risk for liver cancer, such as diabetes, fatty liver, obesity and excessive alcohol use.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.