Dive Brief:
- A study conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University in London found that taking aspirin for 10 years decreased the risk of bowel cancer by 35% and the risk of stomach and esophageal cancers by 30%.
- Bowel cancer death rates were reduced by 40% after consistent aspirin use, while stomach and esophageal cancer deaths decreased by 35-50%.
- The downside to taking aspirin every day has not changed. Long-term use of aspirin increases the risk of stomach ulceration and bleeding, with sometimes fatal outcomes.
Dive Insight:
The study results are targeted at people between the ages of 50 and 65. According to the researchers, people should start a daily aspirin regiment of 75-100 mg doses during that time in their lives.
“Our study shows that if everyone aged between 50-65 started taking aspirin daily for at least 10 years, there would be a 9% reduction in the number of cancers, strokes, and heart attacks overall in men and around 7% in women," said Jack Cuzick, a Queen Mary University researcher. "The total number of deaths from any cause would also be lower, by about 4% over a 20-year period.”