Lead researcher Eric A. Singer, of the University of Rochester Medical Center said that men who used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) almost every day had average PSA levels that were lower than men who didn't use the pain relievers.
However, the authors were quick to clarify that men shouldn't take the painkillers in an effort to prevent prostate cancer just yet as the clinical significance of the findings is not clear. They are not sure if the use of these drugs helps protect against prostate cancer or simply reduces the sensitivity of PSA as a screening tool for prostate cancer.
For the study, researchers compared PSA levels and NSAID and acetaminophen consumption in 1,319 men over the age of 40 years who participated in the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Individuals who used NSAIDs regularly had PSA levels that were approximately 10 percent lower compared to men who did not take these drugs. Most of the men in the study were younger than 60, and most prostate cancers occur in older men.
Researchers suspect that inflammation associated with prostate cancer may occur through a variety of mechanisms such as infection, hormonal changes, physical trauma, urine reflux, and dietary habits. Studies have shown that cyclooxygenase enzymes, which are inhibited by NSAIDs, play an important role in inflammation.
However, more study is needed to confirm the findings and to determine if regular NSAID use really does lower prostate cancer risk. The study is published in the Oct. 15 issue of the journal Cancer.
