The report, which is published in the May 12 issue of The Lancet, also adds that there are many risks too associated with taking that large a dose of the pill including gastrointestinal bleeding. Hence it is only advisable for those at high risk for colorectal cancer.
Health Day News quotes Dr. Peter Rothwell, a professor of neurology in the University Department of Clinical Neurology at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford as saying, "Individuals at increased risk of colorectal cancer should consult their doctor about whether the benefits of daily aspirin are likely to outweigh the risks in their particular case."
"However, the benefits in individuals at low risk of colorectal cancer will be small," he added.
Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid is a drug in the family of salicylates, often used as an analgesic (to relieve minor aches and pains), antipyretic (to reduce fever), and as an anti-inflammatory. It also has an antiplatelet ("blood-thinning") effect and is used in long-term, low doses to prevent heart attacks and cancer.
The latest results stem from a new analysis of data that were collected in two large trials carried out some time ago by the British Doctors' Aspirin Trial. The trial tracked patients from two large randomized trials of aspirin from the late 1970s and early 1980s.
According to statistics, more than 50 million adults in the United States take aspirin regularly for long-term prevention against heart attack and stroke but the typical doses are either 81 milligrams a day or 325 milligrams a day.
However, experts believe that it is still too early to recommend people to take aspirin to prevent colon cancer. "We need to take the side effects of aspirin into account before recommending aspirin for the prevention of colon cancer," the report said.
