A small dose of aspirin (75 mg) significantly reduced death from several types of cancer, says a new study. According to scientists at the University of Oxford, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and other centers of research, fármacoo 20% can reduce mortality rates by disease.
The study, published in the journal The Lancet, was conducted with more than 25,000 patients, mostly in the UK.
A preliminary investigation of the same scientists, released in October in the same journal, showed that this dose of aspirin was reduced in 35% mortality from cancer of the colon and rectum.
But in this new work the authors analyzed death rates from all cancers. Low dose
According to experts, although they know the risks of aspirin in some patients, which can cause bleeding, "the paper shows that the drug's benefits outweigh its dangers.
already know that aspirin reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in people prone to these disorders.
But it is thought that healthy adults protective effects against disease are very small and cardivoasculares aspirin increases the risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding.
Now, however, new research shows that when assessing the risks and benefits of taking aspirin experts should also consider its protective effects against cancer.
In the study, patients taking the drug showed 25% lower risk of death from cancer during the period of investigation and a 10% reduction in risk of death from any cause compared with patients not taking the drug.
The delivered dose, however, was very small. Are commercially available tablets of 500 milligrams (mg), while the dose studied was 75 mg. Durable protection
Treatment with aspirin, the researchers say, lasted between four and eight years, but follow-up was about 12,500 patients showed that the protective effect continued for 20 years, both men and women .
The results showed that the risk of death from cancer was reduced by 20% during those 20 years. E individually, the reduction in mortality was about 40% in colorectal cancer, lung cancer 30%, 10% in prostate cancer and 60% in esophageal cancer.
The decline in death from cancer of the pancreas, stomach and brain was difficult to quantify, the authors say, because of smaller numbers of deaths.
Neither was there sufficient data to show an effect on breast and ovarian cancer, and scientists believe this is because there were not enough women who participated in the study.
are currently conducting large-scale trials to investigate the effects of the drug in these types of cancer.
Professor Peter Rothwell, who led the research, stressed that although this study does not encourage that healthy middle-aged adults begin immediately take aspirin, the evidence shows that it may "be a valuable advice."
He believes that if people were treated with a low dose of aspirin for 20 to 30 years, which would benefit most from the scheme would be those aged between 40 and 50 years.
"Do not take away"
"These results do not mean that all adults should immediately start taking aspirin, but they demonstrate significant new benefits that had not been taken into account in the recommendations health, "says Professor Rothwell.
He adds:" The recommendations have been very cautious to note that in healthy middle-aged adults the small risk of bleeding with aspirin in some cases more than the benefit of stroke prevention or stroke ".
" But the reductions in deaths caused by several common types of cancer now altered, for many people, that balance. "
Experts say that the annual risk of suffering severe internal bleeding is one in 1,000. And with aspirin doubles the risk.
According to the authors, the risk of serious bleeding is "very low" in middle age but increases dramatically after 75.
Other experts say the study is "promising" but Ed Young, chief information officer of the British charity Cancer Research UK, said: "We recommend that anyone interested in taking aspirin on a regular basis consult your doctor first." (BBC)
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