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Researcher aspirin reduces the risk of cancer in some obese people
Aspirin is actually known as a medication for headache or fever. But in recent years, several studies have suggested that the drug can also protect against cancer and stop tumors. According to new study results aspirin can also counteract colon cancer.
Aspirin not just for a headache
Although aspirin is usually used to treat ailments such as headache or fever, it has been known since the 1990s that it can also reduce the risk of cancer when taken regularly. For example, an older metastatic study by British scientists at Oxford University showed that acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) can prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. Last year, American physician and professor at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, David Agus, also said that aspirin should protect against cancer when taken low-dose and taken with a cholesterol-free drug. The risk for a heart attack and stroke also decreases. Now, a new UK study has shown that aspirin can protect some people from colon cancer.
Aspirin protects overweight people with Synch Syndrome from cancer. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com) Cancer risk lowered in certain patients
The results of the Newcastle and Leeds Universities study were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology journal. As the portal "financialexpress.com" reported, the study found that overweight patients with Lynch syndrome are more than twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as normal weight. However, the cancer risk is reduced if the subjects regularly take aspirin. According to health experts, the so-called HNPCC / Lynch syndrome accounts for around five percent of all cases of colon cancer. Only a few months ago it was reported that doctors in Frankfurt tested a first vaccine against such colon cancer species.
Obesity increases cancer risk
The English researchers came to their conclusions by accompanying 937 Lynch syndrome patients from 16 countries for up to 10 years. Half of the study participants consumed two aspirin (600 mg) each day for a period of two years. The remaining subjects were given placebos. According to the data, 55 participants in the study had colorectal cancer after ten years, with the cancer risk in the overweight being 2.75 times higher than in the other participants. It can be concluded that even those who already have a genetic predisposition to colon cancer is additionally promoted by obesity. Aspirin can counteract this accordingly.
Research on causes of disease
According to John Mathers, a professor at Newcastle University, according to "focus.de", one possible explanation for the positive effect was that "the more susceptible the body is to inflammation, the higher the cancer risk. Obesity promotes inflammatory processes; Aspirin, on the other hand, inhibits inflammation. Perhaps this could be a new impetus in the study of the causes of cancer. "In Switzerland, too, a possibly lower risk of aspirin cancer has been explored in the past. The scientists there assumed that aspirin rejuvenates the markers in the genome, which tell the cell what function, such as skin or muscle cell, they should take over.
After the prevention expert Jack Cuzick of the Queen Mary University of London and research colleagues in recent years on the preventive effect of aspirin against cancer and heart attack reported, it was also known that many of the researchers act as consultants for Bayer.
Healthy lifestyle and normal weight
The best weapon against cancer was and still is a healthy lifestyle and normal weight. Experts advise to regular exercise and balanced nutrition. Red meat should be avoided as well as alcohol and tobacco. The scientists from Leeds and Newcastle still want to conduct new studies, in which they explore positive effects of aspirin in the context of colon cancer. Among other things, she is interested in whether smaller amounts of the drug would be enough to lower the risk. Despite their results, the researchers still do not recommend the safe and regular intake of aspirin. (Ad)