Recent research suggests that statin medications could significantly lower the risk of heart disease and more than 20 types of cancer. Chinese researchers unveiled a study analyzing health data from around 400,000 individuals over 15 years using a comprehensive UK database.
Researchers at Shandong University Hospital and other research centers conducted the study, which indicates that cholesterol-lowering medications may offer cancer-preventive benefits by reducing chronic inflammation.
About 8 million adults in the UK are currently taking cholesterol-lowering medications like statins. Introduced in the 1980s, statins have played a crucial role in reducing fatty deposits in the arteries, aiding in the fight against cardiovascular disease.
The findings reveal that statins might provide various anti-cancer effects, including diminishing inflammation and inhibiting the growth of malignant cells. Patients using statins experienced a remarkable 50% reduction in the risk of major cancers such as breast, prostate, and cervical cancer.
For new statin users, the risk of several cancers—including leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, and multiple myeloma—dropped by 38% to 66%. Those on statins had a 70% lower risk of cancer-related death compared to individuals not taking the medication.
The researchers announced that statins are associated with a reduced risk of 21 types of cancer. They suggested that this medication could be considered part of cancer prevention strategies and may also have preventive effects in the general population.
The study utilized data from the UK Biobank, which has collected health information from 500,000 individuals since 2006. Of the 383,784 participants included, 114,451 were new users of cholesterol-lowering medications. Researchers tracked cancer diagnoses and prescription dates over an average follow-up period of 12 years and 8 months.
Jayant Vaidya, a surgeon and oncologist at University College London, cautioned that this association may not imply causation. A low risk was observed regardless of statin usage duration. His remarks underscore the need for further investigation into the potential benefits of statins.
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