New research has revealed the blood types that could face significantly higher risks of developing certain deadly cancers.
The findings come from a study of 50,000 Iranians which found those with A, B or AB blood types, around half the UK population, have a 55 per cent higher risk of stomach cancer.
Those with type A blood are also a sixth more likely to develop bowel cancer, according to the same research.
A separate study conducted in 2016 on nearly 18,000 adults found people with AB blood type had a 45 per cent higher chance of developing liver cancer.
People with blood types A, B or AB are more likely to develop cancer, according to a new study
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People with O and AB blood types had approximately a sixth lower chance of developing this particularly deadly form of cancer.
Experts are not entirely certain why blood types affect cancer risk, particularly in the digestive system.
One theory suggests different blood types produce varying immune responses to threats like bacteria. These different responses may trigger cellular changes that increase the likelihood of cancer developing.
However, some experts urge caution when interpreting these links between blood type and cancer risk. They point out that many studies have relatively small participant numbers.
The research often fails to account for other important cancer risk factors such as alcohol consumption or smoking habits.
In the UK, O-positive is the most common blood type, followed by A positive and A negative.
Together, O-positive and A-positive account for around 65 per cent of the UK population, according to the NHS.
The rarest blood type is AB negative, which accounts for just one per cent of people in the UK.
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Experts cannot explain why blood types impact cancer risk
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Blood type is determined by genes inherited from your parents and cannot be changed.
Finding out your blood type is simple through several methods. Do-it-yourself tests are available online, starting from £9.99.
Private clinics offer blood typing for under £100 with results within two days.
NHS blood donors discover their type for free after their first donation. Hospital patients can also ask their doctor about their blood type.
