on PinterestA new study demonstrates limited protective benefits for daily aspirin use and colorectal cancer risk.
on PinterestA new study demonstrates limited protective benefits for daily aspirin use and colorectal cancer risk. Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images
- Research suggests that daily low dose aspirin doesn’t appear to reduce a person’s risk of colorectal cancer.
- Frequent aspirin use may increase a person’s risk of bleeding in and around the brain.
- Experts say you can lower your colorectal cancer risk with lifestyle habits such as eating a plant-based diet, limiting alcohol consumption, and exercising daily.
A daily regimen of low dose aspirin probably does not significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer but may increase the risk of bleeding in the brain area, according to a large-scale analysis of previous research.
Researchers reported that daily aspirin probably does not help in preventing colorectal cancer in the first 15 years of use, although it might have some preventive benefits in the longer term.
However, the researchers stated that they are “not confident” in the long-term assessment.
They also reported that daily aspirin use may increase deaths from colorectal cancer in the short term but may help reduce deaths after 15 years.
Again, the researchers noted they are “not confident” in these conclusions.
They did report that daily aspirin use may increase the risk of bleeding outside the skull as well as bleeding in and around the brain.
“It is not possible to draw definitive conclusions or outline specific implications for the routine use of aspirin for [colorectal cancer] primary prevention based on the current evidence,” the researchers wrote. “Our findings reveal complex, time‐dependent preventive effects and concerns about potential harms for clinicians and patients to consider.”
They published their findings in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on April 1. They were an update to a previous study they published in February.
Ketan Thanki, MD, a colorectal surgeon who specializes in benign and malignant disease of the colon, rectum, and anus at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California, said this latest report provides cautionary advice for anyone considering an aspirin regimen.
“This study demonstrates limited (if any) protective benefit from aspirin on risk of developing colorectal cancer in the general population,” Thanki told Healthline. “With the known potential complications of long-term aspirin use, I would recommend that people don’t take daily aspirin solely with the intent of reducing your risk of developing colorectal cancer.”
Low dose aspirin and colorectal cancer risk
To reach their findings, the researchers analyzed data from 10 randomized controlled clinical trials.
They compared aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with either no treatment or a different treatment for preventing colorectal cancer or colorectal adenoma in the general population.
The studies included more than 120,000 participants. Most of the research was conducted in North America and Europe. Low‐dose aspirin (75-100 mg per day) was typically used, although three studies evaluated higher doses.
The researchers said they found that daily aspirin “probably results in little to no difference” in reducing colorectal cancer risks after 5 to 15 years of use. They added that aspirin might slightly reduce colorectal cancer risk after 15 years of use.
“I would advise that you
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