The Study: Can Aspirin Help Prevent Diabetes?
New research from Australia suggests that taking a low dose of aspirin daily may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 15% among people aged 65 and older.
Led by Professor Sophia Zoungas from Monash University, the team of researchers will present these findings at the upcoming European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Hamburg, Germany.
The study followed over 16,000 participants, all of whom were 65 years or older, healthy, and didn’t have a history of heart issues, severe physical disability, or dementia.
They were divided into two groups: one took a 100mg daily dose of aspirin, while the other took a placebo.
The participants were followed for an average of nearly five years, and the researchers tracked the number of new diabetes cases and checked yearly fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, which help measure blood sugar.
Findings: Less Diabetes but Some Risks
The results were pretty encouraging. The group that took aspirin had fewer new cases of diabetes (459 vs. 536 in the placebo group) and slower rates of blood sugar increase over time.
However, it’s worth noting that an earlier study, called the ASPREE trial, found that older adults taking aspirin had a 38% higher chance of experiencing significant bleeding, mainly in the digestive system.
That earlier study also found no benefits of aspirin in preventing heart diseases in older adults.
What Does This Mean? Proceed with Caution
While these new findings may seem promising, Professor Zoungas cautions that they don’t change the current advice on aspirin use for older people.
As of now, the main guidelines suggest that seniors should only take daily aspirin if they have a specific medical reason, like having recently survived a heart attack.
Even though the results of this study highlight the potential for aspirin to help prevent diabetes among older adults, the risk of significant bleeding remains a concern.
The researchers agree that the role of anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin in preventing diabetes deserves more study. The increasing number of older adults with type 2 diabetes makes this a pressing issue.
But until more is known, particularly about the risks involved, the general advice on taking daily aspirin remains the same: consult your doctor and weigh the benefits against the risks.
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The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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