By Jimmy Downs

Tuesday April 23, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study in Hepatology has found that chronic infections with hepatitic B and hepatitis C are two major causes for cirrhosis and primary liver cancer.

Worldwide, according to the study report, hepatitis B virus caused 30 percent of cirrhosis and hepatitis C caused 27% and these viruses were responsible for 53% and 25% of liver cancer, respectively.  Regionally, these infections accounted for more than 50% of liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Worldwide, 929,000 people died from liver cancer induced by chronic hepatitis B virus infection (446,000) or hepatitis C virus infection (483,000)

The data came from 11 World Health Organization-based regions.

Joseph F. Perz from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Epidemiology Branch in Atlanta, GA, USA and collleagues conducted the study.

One good way to prevent any chronic liver disease from progressing to become liver cancer is to stop eating meat and dairy products.   Dr.  T Colin Campbell, Nutrition professor at Cornell University conducted research and found eating a diet with protein from only plants prevents the liver from being damaged by hepatitis viruses and toxins that would otherwise cause damage to the liver leading to the development of liver cancer.

Vitamin D may be used to prevent or even treat patients with chronic liver disease, according to some studies.  Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk for 17 cancers.