Taking a low-dose aspirin every other day may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that focused on nearly 40,000 women aged 45 and older.
After 18 years of follow-up, researchers found a 20 percent reduction in colon cancer over the whole time period. In the follow-up of 10 to 18 years marked the rate of reduction up to 42 percent.
However, risks linked with aspirin, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, must be considered. Aspirin has been long known for its protective effects on heart health, but the protective effect of aspirin on colon and rectal cancer has only been found more recently.
In this study, the women assigned to the aspirin group were told to take a low dose (100 milligrams) of aspirin every other day. The comparison group took placebo pills on alternate days.
Though the study included only women, but the results would probably apply to men, too.
Even with the double benefit of heart and colon protection, we really need to balance risks and benefits of aspirin the researchers said. Generally, daily 325 mg of aspirin is recommended for heart disease risk reduction.