New research finds that taking aspirin can help ward off colon cancer. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and now appears in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Based on the findings, men and women who took baby aspirin (75 to 150mg) once or twice daily for five years had a 27 percent reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Furthermore, the study showed that taking other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen at the same frequency reduced the colon cancer risk of the subjects by 30 to 45 percent.
According to study co-author Dr. John Baron from University of North Carolina School of Medicine, the ability of the drug to protect from colon cancer risk was remarkable and sets a great "example of how everyday drugs can have unexpected benefits," as reported in Chicago Tribune.
For the study, researchers looked into Danish cancer databases and analyzed health records of over 10,000 patients between 30 and 85 years old, who received colon cancer diagnosis between 1994 and 2011.
Meanwhile, the study also has its limitations; it did not look into the potential effects of giving high doses of aspirin and did not see the same benefit in those who take the aspirin or other NSAIDs on a short-term basis at low doses.
The findings do not suggest that painkillers will directly reduce colon cancer risk; it only shows that a connection exists between them.
Dr. Soren Friis from the Danish Cancer Society Research Center in Copenhagen advised people not to immediately turn to aspirin or NSAIDs to experience the protective benefit.
"Low dose aspirin, already taken regularly by millions, reduces the risk of colorectal cancer," Friis told Reuters Health via email, but he also added that before deciding to take aspirin on a long-term basis, people should consult with their doctor.
