Statins helpful in chronic liver disease: Review of Studies

Reducing cholesterol can have a positive effect on many chronic liver disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as in biliary disorders. In some studies, the research team found that statins reduced inflammatory molecules that are typically elevated with liver disease and improved inflammation in the endothelium (cells that line the blood vessels). Statin use may also lead to:

• Decreased fibrosis (hardening or scarring of tissue),

• Less development of fatty liver,

• Slowed or halted spread of hepatitis C virus,

• Improvement of portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the liver's blood vessels),

• Destruction of existing liver tumor cells, and

• Reduced risk of developing liver cancer.

The researchers acknowledge that statin drugs can contribute to liver damage in some people, but for people with advanced liver disease, "Statins are cost-effective, generally well-tolerated by patients and the benefits of statin treatment in most patients outweigh their potential hepatotoxic risk."