Aspirin is commonly recognized for its benefits in preventing heart attacks, but recent research has also identified a correlation between the widely used medication and a decreased risk of colorectal cancer.
The study evaluated data from 107,655 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study over 30 years. The findings were published in JAMA Oncology on Thursday.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Washington University School of Medicine discovered that consistent aspirin consumption is associated with a lower likelihood of developing colorectal cancer, particularly among individuals with the most unhealthy lifestyles.
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“The study indicates a link between regular, low-dose aspirin usage and a nearly 20% reduction in colon cancer risk for patients who face heightened risks due to factors such as smoking or poor diet,” stated Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, who did not participate in the research.
Aspirin has been associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, as indicated by a study in JAMA Oncology. (iStock)
Factors that were assessed for unhealthy lifestyles included higher body mass index, excessive smoking, increased alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, and poor dietary habits.
“We found that participants in our research with the least healthy lifestyle experienced the most significant absolute benefits from aspirin use,” remarked lead author Daniel Sikavi, M.D., a board-certified physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, to Fox News Digital.
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“Participants with multiple risk factors that raised their overall colorectal cancer risk showed that aspirin can significantly reduce this heightened risk.”
For those leading a healthier lifestyle, aspirin still provided benefits, though they were less pronounced.
The findings suggest that healthcare professionals should consider advising aspirin for patients with less healthy lifestyles. (AP Photo/Emma H. Tobin)
“In the least healthy group, treating 78 patients with aspirin would prevent one case of colorectal cancer over a decade, whereas it would take treating 909 patients in the healthiest group to prevent one case,” added Sikavi.
The mechanism behind aspirin’s potential to reduce colon cancer risk is likely due to its anti-inflammatory properties, as many cancers are associated with increased inflammation, according to Siegel.
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In light of the study’s outcomes, researchers recommend that healthcare providers might consider suggesting aspirin to individuals with less healthy lifestyles.
The American Cancer Society predicts nearly 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and around 46,220 rectal cancer cases to be diagnosed in 2024. (iStock)
“This research illustrates how we can advance beyond generic strategies for cancer prevention by focusing protective methods, such as aspirin, on the populations most likely to benefit,” remarked Sikavi.
Potential limitations
Sikavi noted that one limitation of the study is the absence of systematic evaluations of potential side effects related to aspirin use.
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“As this was an observational study, other influencing factors could have affected our results, despite our careful consideration of known colorectal cancer risk factors,” he mentioned.
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Siegel affirmed that since this is an observational study, “it remains inconclusive.”
The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 106,590 new colon cancer cases and about 46,220 rectal cancer diagnoses in 2024.
