Private MD News

Metabolic syndrome linked to liver cancer risk

Category: Liver

Individuals who suffer from metabolic syndrome may want to consider seeking liver cancer testing at some point in the near future, as a new study has found that the condition is major risk factor for the deadly cancer.

Hepatitis infection and inflammatory bowel disease are the two most well established risk factors for liver cancer. However, these conditions only explain about half of all cases of tumor growth. With liver cancer diagnoses becoming more common, it is necessary to identify more risk factors for the disease.

For the study, researchers from the National Cancer Institute examined medical data from more than 20,000 individuals both with and without liver cancer. The results showed that 34 percent of cancer patients had metabolic syndrome, a collection of conditions marked by a large waistline, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels and unhealthy blood sugar regulation.

Metabolic condition is becoming much more common in the U.S. as a result of rising obesity rates. The findings help explain why cases of liver cancer are growing in prevalence. The researchers said that their results further underscore the need to reduce obesity rates in the U.S.