Study: Statins may decrease risk of liver cancer

Statins may lower cholesterol, but now researchers say the drugs could also decrease the risk of liver cancer.

Researchers from the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda studied 1195 liver cancer cases diagnosed between 1988 and 2011 and 4,640 control patients.

They said their research showed that statin use was associated with a reduced risk of liver cancer overall. This relationship was strongest among current users.

Additionally, the association was apparent regardless of whether the study participants had diabetes or liver disease, but was strongest among those who had liver disease or diabetes.

The study is published in JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.