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Statins linked to reduced liver cancer risk in major cohort study
Medical Xpress / Harvard Medical School / JAMA Internal Medicine ^ | March 19, 2025 | Justin Jackson / Jonggi Choi et al

Posted on 03/25/2025 8:25:44 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Researchers have found statin use significantly reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic decompensation among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Statins, particularly lipophilic statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin, were associated with a substantial decrease in the likelihood of liver cancer and complications. Longer duration of statin use further increases this protective effect.

Researchers conducted a historical cohort analysis of data from the Research Patient Data Registry, clinical data from hospitals within the Mass General Brigham health care system, covering 2000-2023.

Participants included 16,501 adult patients aged 40 or older diagnosed with CLD and a baseline Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score of 1.3 or higher. Individuals were grouped into statin users and nonusers. Researchers evaluated the cumulative 10-year incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation, as well as changes in liver fibrosis severity based on the FIB-4 score.

Statin use correlated with significantly lower incidences of HCC, reducing the 10-year cumulative incidence from 8.0% among nonusers to 3.8% among statin users. This corresponds to an absolute risk difference of −4.2% and a 33% lower adjusted hazard ratio (aSHR 0.67). Similarly, hepatic decompensation risk decreased from 19.5% in nonusers to 10.6% in statin users, with an absolute risk difference of −9.0% and an aSHR of 0.78 (22% lower risk).

Lipophilic statins had stronger protective associations, lowering HCC risk by 36%, compared with a 21% risk reduction observed with hydrophilic statins such as rosuvastatin and pravastatin. Longer-term statin use further improved these outcomes. Patients prescribed at least 600 cumulative daily doses had a 40% reduction in HCC risk and a 36% reduction in hepatic decompensation.

In evaluating fibrosis progression among a subgroup of 7,038 patients with serial FIB-4 measurements, statin users showed better outcomes, with fewer progressing to higher-risk fibrosis categories and more transitioning from high-risk to intermediate- or low-risk categories.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: cancer; cld; liver; livercancer; statins
Lipophilic statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin were found to greatly reduce the likelihood of chronic liver disease becoming liver cancer.

Strangely, they even reversed some higher-risk fibrosis patients to low-risk categories.

I think this is a situation where the liver needs all the help it can get, even if statins may not be that helpful for other conditions.

1 posted on 03/25/2025 8:25:44 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

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2 posted on 03/25/2025 8:36:48 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Drinking less alcohol can help avoid liver issues.


3 posted on 03/25/2025 8:38:54 PM PDT by Bobbyvotes (I am in mid-80's and I am not gonna change my opinions.)
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To: ConservativeMind

good news for many people including myself who take statins


4 posted on 03/25/2025 8:45:15 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: ConservativeMind

Oh, please.

If grain alcohol showed reduced liver cancer risk medexpress would publish it.

Statins are poison and the sooner people accepted that - among other rather obvious facts, despite what so-called ‘doctors’ tell us - the better for all.


5 posted on 03/25/2025 9:06:27 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: ConservativeMind

The only problem is that they disable and kill a lot of people.


6 posted on 03/25/2025 10:55:48 PM PDT by Revel
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To: ConservativeMind

Guess it’s pretty hard to get liver cancer when you have no liver thanks to the statins. That’s why I had to stop taking atorvastatin after 2 years of it. No liver disease so maybe that’s where statins are beneficial but I had statin induced liver damage and seizures.


7 posted on 03/25/2025 11:31:11 PM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: ConservativeMind

They’re over prescribed, and will lead to alzheimers and a rise in blood sugar, and while they lower cholesterol they actually lower the type of large molecule cholesterol that isn’t bad for you. You can control liver disease via diet, stop abusing alcohol, get your blood sugar under control and quit ALL seed oils.


8 posted on 03/26/2025 12:51:55 AM PDT by Katya (lacking in the feelings department, )
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To: ConservativeMind

BS. Meanwhile, even if true, I could go make myself a sandwich and eat it before you could read all the negative side affects of statins. Statins are one of the biggest cash cows in the industry.


9 posted on 03/26/2025 3:18:15 AM PDT by GrumpyOldGuy
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To: Katya

If you have more iron than you need, you can donate blood and that is good for you.


10 posted on 03/26/2025 4:43:30 AM PDT by TTFX
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To: Katya

My wife died from Alzheimer’s (heart failure) while taking Simvastatin.
Causal? Don’t know.


11 posted on 03/26/2025 6:02:19 AM PDT by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
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To: Katya

When it breaks through the brain-blood barrier, statins can cause dementia like symptoms. I have a friend who’s losing his memory from the stuff but he won’t quit because the doctor has him all scared he’ll have a heart attack the week he quits it. Big Pharma has these doctors brainwashed.


12 posted on 03/26/2025 6:14:35 AM PDT by BipolarBob (After my drug test, they either said "Urine Trouble" or You're in trouble". )
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To: logi_cal869

“Statins are poison and the sooner people accepted that”

They tried to get me to take them and I said no. I had a high cholesterol count for the first time in my life and they said you HAVE to take this or you MAY have a heart attack in 10 years. I’m 75.


13 posted on 03/26/2025 6:32:13 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: dljordan

Before I knew better (and before I knew that our family is genetically predisposed to high blood cholesterol), my ‘doctor’ convinced me to go on the statin Crestor after I tried every dietary practice and all other statin brands to no avail.

The side effects nearly killed me and may shorten my life.

If you saw my last cholesterol test, you’d cough hard.

Looking forward to my 75 (I think) in just over a decade.

Be well ;-)


14 posted on 03/26/2025 7:01:03 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: ConservativeMind

I was on simvastatin for a year, back in 2007, for a partially blocked coronary artery (65-70%). I had -0- blockage after that.


15 posted on 03/26/2025 7:20:59 AM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: mikey_hates_everything

I wouldn’t go on statins years back. Doc said “I don’t blame you.” Has science behind them.

Did the same with covid VAX. Doc said same thing. I said I’d wait for the 3-5 year data and decide for myself then. Dodged that bullet, too.

Always ask, “What’s the impact on Quality Of Life?”


16 posted on 03/26/2025 7:24:39 AM PDT by Basket_of_Deplorables (MAGA!!!!)
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To: ConservativeMind

I had been trying to get Mr G off statins for years, but his cardiologist kept him on them. He has been getting weaker for quite a while. Then he started getting a LOT weaker, faster, to a crisis point. I checked his meds for conflicts and found there was a major conflict between statins and a heart med he had been put on. He is off both now, and getting stronger every day.


17 posted on 03/26/2025 7:51:32 AM PDT by Grammy (When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Grammy

Grammy, I have a friend, an older veteran, who was on over 30 prescriptions. A much needed review brought those down to two, and he is doing better.

A lot were meds to handle side effects, that got forgotten about as he moved between doctors, it seems.


18 posted on 03/26/2025 8:34:49 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Basket_of_Deplorables

Fortunately the liver heals so the scary summer of 2018 of constant fever, chills, seizures and no one knowing what was happening “but try this pill now...” is long over. That was my first hard lesson about the medical industry which influenced my decision about telling them to stuff the COVID vax when that happened.


19 posted on 03/26/2025 8:50:39 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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