Aspirin reduces colon cancer risk

A low dose of aspirin may reduce the incidence of colon cancer by a quarter and deaths by one third, according to a new study.

But experts say that the side effects of aspirin such as bleeding and stomach problems are too disturbing to people who are not at high risk of the disease begin to take it just for that reason.

Previous studies have found that a daily dose of at least 500 milligrams of aspirin may prevent colon cancer, but the adverse effects of a dose as high outweighed the benefits. Now researchers say that a low dose, equivalent to a regular aspirin or child also seems to work.

European researchers found 20-year results of four studies involving more than 14 000 subjects who were originally made to study the use of aspirin in preventing stroke.

They found that those taking regular aspirin or infant daily for about six years reduced the risk of colon cancer by 24% and deaths from the disease fell 35%. These results were compared with those taking placebo or nothing. It seems to be no difference in taking over infant dose aspirin.

The study concluded that even low doses of aspirin may reduce colon cancer suggests that the drug could be used for the prevention of cancer, but should not start taking aspirin daily without consulting a doctor.

The European studies used baby aspirin 75 milligrams and 300 milligrams of aspirin regularly. In the United States are the equivalent of 81 to 325 milligrams.

If taken in large doses for a long time, aspirin can irritate the stomach, intestines and stomach, causing injuries and bleeding.

Some researchers said that aspirin may benefit certain individuals.

"Anyone who has any risk factors such as family history (colon cancer) or previous polyp definitely should take aspirin," said Peter Rothwell, a professor at the University of Oxford and one of the authors of the report.

No funding was provided for the study, which was published online Friday in the journal Lancet Rothwell and some of his co-authors were paid by several pharmaceutical companies that produce blood thinners like aspirin.

The evidence discussed in the Lancet study were made before the widespread introduction of screening tests such as sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, which reduces the probability of death from colon cancer from 40% to 70%.

Thanks to PrensaLatinaLV