New Study Explores Aspirin’s Side Effects
A new analysis points out that seniors taking low-dose aspirin could face a 20% higher risk of lower iron levels and anemia.
These findings come from researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, who looked into the ASPREE trial data.
The trial originally involved 19,114 people aged 70 or older, who were given either 100mg of aspirin every day or a placebo.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and suggests that older adults taking aspirin should regularly check their iron levels.
What Did Researchers Find?
Blood tests over several years showed some concerning trends. Among the folks taking aspirin, about 23.5% developed anemia, a condition where you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body.
Additionally, the same group had a small but significant drop in average levels of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
They also experienced a decline in ferritin, which measures the amount of iron in your blood.
What’s interesting is that these changes weren’t linked to any major bleeding events, which are a well-known risk of aspirin use.
Instead, the researchers think the decline in iron levels is most likely due to hidden or “occult” blood loss, possibly from the digestive tract.
Why Is This Important?
Many older people in the United States take aspirin as a preventive measure, despite known risks like increased chances of significant bleeding, particularly in the stomach and intestines.
However, up until now, not many studies have looked at how aspirin might affect anemia and iron levels, especially in older adults.
If you’re an older adult taking aspirin, this study suggests that you should be more vigilant about monitoring your iron levels.
Anemia and low iron can lead to a host of health problems, including fatigue, weakness, and more serious complications. So, keeping an eye on your blood could be a smart move.
In a nutshell, this study adds another layer of caution for seniors considering daily aspirin use. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any medication, including over-the-counter ones like aspirin.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
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