Statins with reduced cancer
CHICAGO drugs taken by millions of America to lower cholesterol may also reduce the risk of certain cancers, researchers said on Monday.The link is not proven, but a preliminary study of 13 years was conducted in the Netherlands found a 20% lower risk of cancer in people who Zocor cholesterollowering not against people taking the drug.
An estimated 13 million people take these and other statins for cholesterol. All inhibit an enzyme that enables the liver to produce cholesterol.
Statins might increase the bodys ability to eliminate cells with mutations cancercausing soon, said Matthijs Graaf of the University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center. Graaf spoke at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
The strongest associationin the 19851998 study of more than 20,000 people have been found with prostate cancer and kidney cancer. The reduction in risk was among men statins for four years or more found.