Excess Body Weight and the Risk of Liver Cancer: Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Nutr Cancer. 2020;72(7):1085-1097. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2019.1664602. Epub 2019 Sep 23.

Abstract

Objective: To update and expand the previous meta-analysis including all prospective studies on the issue of the associations between overweight, obesity, and liver cancer risk. We also performed a meta-regression to investigate a potential nonlinear and/or linear association between body mass index (BMI) and liver cancer risk.Methods: Literature search was conducted in four libraries from the beginning of indexing for each database to 1st September, 2018.Results: The summary risk estimate was statistically significant on the association between overweight and the risk of liver cancer incidence (relative ratio [RR] = 1.19). The RRs were significantly stronger in people with known liver disease with overweight than in the general population with overweight (RR = 1.50 vs. RR = 1.10; Pdifference = .02). The meta-analysis showed an increase by 87% on the risk of liver cancer incidence in obesity categories, relative to categories of normal BMI (RR = 1.87, P < .01). Moreover, the results showed that, overweight was associated with 9% increased and obesity with 66% increased for risk of liver cancer mortality. In linear model, the relative risks of liver cancer were 1.32 for continuous BMI per 5 kg/m2 increase.Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that overweight, obesity may significantly increase liver cancer risk.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Linear Models
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult