However, the benefit requires the dose of aspirin to be higher than usually recommended for heart health, and to be taken over at least six years. "Long-term data on the risk of colorectal cancer according to dose, duration, and consistency of aspirin therapy are limited," Dr Andrew T. Chan, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and colleagues write in the medical journal Gastroenterology.

Advertisement

The research team collected data on aspirin use and cancer risk factors every two years among more than 47 000 men between 40 and 87 years old at enrolment in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study in 1986. During 18 years of follow-up, 975 cases of colorectal cancer were documented.

After adjustment for risk factors, men who reported taking aspirin regularly (at least twice a week) had a 21 percent lower risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with men who were not regular aspirin users.

Benefit associated with dose
However, men who had been taking aspirin regularly for five years or less did not have lower odds of colorectal cancer. Similarly, after stopping aspirin, the reduction in risk was no longer evident four years later.

The benefit associated with aspirin use was related to the dose of aspirin. Men who took the equivalent of up to one-and-half standard 325-milligram tablets of aspirin per week did not have a significantly lower risk of colorectal cancer, the researchers report.

On the other hand, those who took six to 14 standard aspirin tablets per week had a 28 percent reduction in risk of colorectal cancer, and those taking more than 14 tablets per week had a 70 percent reduction.

The next step, the researchers say, should be to investigate the potential risks and benefits, along with what the optimal dose should be. – (ReutersHealth) - (February 2008)

Read more:
Asprin can prevent Parkinson's
Aspirin safer at lower doses
 

Print this article on

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

JOBS

Operations Manager R20,000-25,000 Per Month Cost To Company Incl Benefits Gauteng - East Rand Financial Accountant: CA(SA) R400,000-500,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Key Account Manager Gauteng Java Developer-CT Western Cape - Cape Town Java Developer-Jozi Gauteng Account Manager R460,000-540,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Plus Benefits Gauteng Account Manager R460,000-540,000 Per Annum Market Related Plus Benefits South Africa Case Manager R210,000-220,000 Per Annum Negotiable Gauteng - Pretoria Find more jobs Register your CV Post a job