Common anti-inflammatory drug may help reduce cancer risk

In a new study, researchers found aspirin use three or more times per week is linked to reductions in all-cause, any cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and colon cancer mortality among older adults.

The research was conducted by a team from the National Cancer Institute.

The team examined the correlation of aspirin use with all-cause, any cancer, gastrointestinal, and colon cancer mortality among 146,152 older people, who were followed for about 12.5 years.

The researchers found that aspirin use one to three times per month was linked to a reduced risk for all-cause and cancer mortality compared with no use.

Reduced risks for mortality of all causes, any cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and colon cancer were seen with aspirin use three or more times per week.

In addition, aspirin use three or more times per week correlated with a reduced risk for all-cause and any cancer mortality among those with a BMI of 20 to 24 kg/m² and with reduced risk for all-cause, any cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and colon cancer mortality with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m².

The team says future studies should further examine the association of BMI with the efficacy of aspirin as a cancer preventive agent to adapt to the changing global obesity trends.

One author of the study is Holli A. Loomans-Kropp, Ph.D., M.P.H.

The study is published in JAMA Network Open.

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