Could a seemingly innocuous pill revolutionize our health perspectives? Recent research provides some insights on this matter. The results of this study could transform our understanding of a major health risk.
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Researchers from Mass General Brigham have revealed surprising data on the preventive impact of aspirin for colorectal cancer.
The researchers followed men and women for over 30 years. Those with unhealthy lifestyles, characterized by poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking, benefitted the most from regular aspirin use, according to the study led by Mass General Brigham.
According to the study published in
JAMA Oncology, aspirin may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with lifestyle-related risk factors. Andrew Chan, co-author of the study, emphasizes the importance of personalized prevention, especially for those at high risk.
The study was based on health data from 107,655 participants. The results show a cumulative 10-year incidence of 1.98% of colorectal cancer among regular aspirin users, compared to 2.95% for those who did not take it. Aspirin appears particularly beneficial for participants with unhealthy lifestyles.
Participants with the lowest lifestyle scores saw their colorectal cancer risk reduced from 3.4% to 2.12% thanks to aspirin. In contrast, those with the highest scores saw only a marginal reduction. It is estimated that treating 78 patients with aspirin would prevent one case of colorectal cancer over a 10-year period for the least healthy group.
By blocking pro-inflammatory proteins and influencing immune responses, aspirin may prevent colorectal cancer through various mechanisms. However, the study did not address potential side effects such as bleeding.
While the results of this study are encouraging, further evaluation is needed to confirm the benefits of aspirin across different population groups.