Aspirin Prevents Bowel Cancer

We've always supported the use of aspirin and we've also spoken on how scientific research can be misused to mislead and aspirin was our example. Aspirin has been found to be successful for reducing heart damage or high blood pressure but not heart attacks, and now cancer of the colon. Aspirin has not been found effect in stopping stab wounds or automobile accidents. It's not meant to. Research into such things would not be useful except to disparage or discourage aspirin use. It's affordable, available and well tested.

"Aspirin taken for several years at doses of at least 75 mg daily reduced long-term incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer. Benefit was greatest for cancers of the proximal colon, which are not otherwise prevented effectively by screening with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy." - The LANCET (Interpretation)

We also spoken on the amount used. In the recently release study more aspirin has been more effective. In the past we talked about governments recommend use levels but also the effects and concerns of toxicity in exceeding recommended amounts. Indeed in the studies the researchers spoke on this very issue of the twenty (20) year over fourteen thousand (14,032) Brits, Dutch, and Sweds participants:

"High-dose aspirin (≥500 mg daily) reduces long-term incidence of colorectal cancer, but adverse effects might limit its potential for long-term prevention. The long-term effectiveness of lower doses (75—300 mg daily) is unknown. We assessed the effects of aspirin on incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer in relation to dose, duration of treatment, and site of tumour." - The LANCET (Background)

We know its more of a review of one specific study on the power of the aspirin. Aspirin works and if you're concerned about colorectal cancer you might want to add it to your medical regime if you FIRST discuss your intention with your primary care physician. According to the current research in the British Journal THE LANCET. So we do mention the publication in some of our stories but there is a caveat. Well there is now. The World Health Organization (WHO) finds some flaws with the publication:

"WHO disputes Lancet's report on number of malaria deaths in India - The World Health Organization has disputed the findings of a study on malaria that claimed the number of Indians dying from the mosquito-borne disease each year 13 times higher than the United Nations health agency's estimate. The study was published in the British medical journal Lancet. The research claimed that malaria causes 200,000 deaths in India every year. However, the WHO estimates that 15,000 malarial deaths take place each year in India." - OneIndia (ANI)

We don't often quote OneIndia either. We do so to say that the review of the review shouldn't be considered the final word on the subject. Neither we nor the Lancet are the final words on the matter. Aspirin - GOOD. Bowel cancer - BAD. The final word on the subject may come from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREEE) international study.

"This research study is the largest international trial ever funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and is being conducted in partnership with over 21 clinics and universities across the United States." - ASPREE (English Brochure)

While the study won't really affect or apply to us (God willing and the creek don't rise) if we live to a ripe old age the results might be useful to us. Prior research has already demonstrated the success of aspirin and taking a low dose a day has shown to be more useful than not. What the study doesn't do that we have concerns with is that it doesn't appear to be focusing on interactions among the elderly. We know of no cases where seniors are NOT on multiple medications. Nor do we support giving any senior a placebo for five (5) years when aspirin has proven to be so effective.

"Women's Health Study Researchers Publish Landmark Findings - Nancy Cook, ScD served as the lead investigator on the low-dose aspirin and cancer analyses, and I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD was the lead investigator of the vitamin E and cardiovascular and cancer analyses. “As a result of our findings, we do not suggest doctors recommend low-dose aspirin therapy for primary prevention of cancer,” Cook said. WHS analyses could not rule out benefits of higher doses of aspirin, and Cook and her colleagues recommend additional study. Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

The study contradicts the American research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston. The twelve (12) year forty-thousand (40,000) women study. Except it doesn't. The BWH Women's Health Study (WHS) concerns low dose aspirin and "breast, colorectal and other site-specific cancers." The results from that study which included the use of Vitamin E and cancer. It's the contradictions in the findings that makes the study so interesting. Vitamin E doesn't work says the researchers.

"Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

I-Min Lee is, in our humble opinion, wrong. The research says the researchers are wrong. Rather, the research indicates that its not completely correct in their assessment. While vitamin E and aspirin do NOT prevent cancer or disease. Yet, if we take aspirin and vitamin E we won't be among those numbers of the dead and dying that do not. Research shows that as well.

Take 2 Aspirins & Exercise

This is not the story we wanted to write. If it says that exercise is good for you and you need to exercise then who really needs to read that again and again. Besides the information isn't recent its kind of old. It's being repeated by the Caregiver's Home Companion and called to our attention. We don't care to know what we already know. The good news is it doesn't take much exercise and there is a way to super-size the effects of the exercise. We just don't like the way to make the exercise more effective.

"Elderly Restore Muscle with Painkillers while Exercising - Elderly men and women who lift weights for exercise experience a substantial increase in their muscle mass when they take the daily recommended dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen, according to Ball State University researchers." - Caregiver's Home Companion (June 2008)

We went to the source to verify the information and we include the report and the research directly from Ball State University (BSU) website after we found the information presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 conference in San Diego. The techno babble is what we look for before we find the plain English. There the researchers said:

"This study examined the influence of chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during 12 weeks of knee-extensor resistance training in the elderly. Thirty-six (36) individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups and consumed the drugs in double-blind placebo-controlled fashion... These results suggest that chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during resistance training induces intramuscular changes that enhance the metabolic response to resistance exercise, which promotes additional muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during resistance training in the elderly." - The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2008) 

At the BSU website we found what it all meant. Our concern was what was meant by the term chronic consumption. We take the occasional low dose of aspirin for daily health the same as we go for the dark chocolate each evening as a health regiment. We recommend that all the time. Science says its good for you so that's good enough for us. We find all we can that says we can do something other than sweat and grunt.

 "Combining pain relievers with weight training may increase muscle strength, mass - Thirty-six men and women, between age 60 and 78 years, were randomly assigned to daily dosages of either brand versions of ibuprofen, acetaminophen or a placebo. The dosages were identical to those recommended by the manufacturers and were selected to most closely mimic what chronic users of these medicines were likely to be taking. Subjects participated in three months of weight training that included 15- to 20-minute sessions three (3) times a week in the Human Performance Laboratory." - Ball State University NewsCenter (April 2008)

 If you're going to exercise you can increase the benefits of your workout but taking either aspirin or acetaminophen. That's the good news. We're including the story because we were told to and because we discovered that tumeric is considered "Asian aspirin." Which makes us speculate that adding the spice to your daily diet prior to exercising with offer the same or comparable results as well. We admit that this is speculation based on the results. We also can't ignore the size of the study it's not a large group studied.

"Exercise but not Diet Induced Weight Loss Decreases Skeletal Muscle Inflammatory Gene Expression in Frail Obese Elderly - Many obese elderly persons have impaired physical function due to increased body fat relative to strength. We evaluated 12 weeks of exercise (aerobic and resistance, E) or 12 weeks of weight loss (WL) on skeletal muscle... ...exercise in frail obese elderly individuals had a beneficial effect on markers of muscle anabolism and inflammation while weight loss had no effect." - The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2008) 

The above information from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO is included simply because it was found at the same FASEB conference attended and presented by Ball State University. Did you know that David Letterman graduated from BSU? We don't know Mr. Letterman beyond viewing him on his late night program but we thought about that bit of trivia when we started doing this story.

Exercise works better than anything else including eating the right among of food. You have to do what works and doing the most effective way to exercise. It's not quite an exercise pill but it's a way of doing less and getting more from what you do.

Arizona Spice - Asian Aspirin

Arizona is not the most beloved state in the union and while you might disagree with their politics or you might not. When the University of Arizona Health Science Center found a way to double a person's chances of survival that wasn't the story as much as how ineffective traditional CPR is. We give credit where credit is due. If the research shows it then either find fault in the research or proclaim it what it is. We proclaim it what it is.

This independent authority released two startling pieces of information. One on improving CPR with CCCPR and the other on the value and effectiveness of tumeric on stroke and for stroke patients. Since heart attacks and stroke are pretty high up on our list of most popular ways to die we're paying attention.

"The spice that flavors curries may have double benefits for stroke patients. Leslie Ritter, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor in the UA Colleges of Nursing and Medicine, explains ischemic stroke and why turmeric may be protective." - The Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC)

We love natural solutions to medical conditions. We absolutely love them. Not just because they tend to be cheaper, safer, have higher survival rates, more effective - OK none of that might be true but we live and hope.

"Arizona Health Sciences Center researchers are discovering that turmeric, a cousin of the ginger plant and a spice used in cooking, is effective against some inflammatory diseases. UA College of Medicine Associate Professor Janet Funk, MD, discusses the spice and takes a look at turmeric supplements." - The Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC)

It's only because University of Arizona reached the conclusion that they did that we didn't challenge their finding. We like the videos very much. However, facts are facts and as much as we love what they had to say and the way that they say it we must admit this. We haven't seen the data that got them to reach their conclusions. The first (1st) video shows us the what and the second (2nd) video shows us the how much. It seems like a dangerous way to self medicate and we certainly don't ever recommend that you do that.

"Medical Breakthroughs - UCLA researchers have isolated an ingredient in curcumin that may help the immune system clear amyloid beta that forms the plaques found in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin is a natural substance found in the tumeric root that is frequently used in Indian curries. " - University of California at Los Angeles (2007)

Tumeric has a research history of showing promise and even if you're suspicious of anything Arizona you'll at least be happy to learning that UCLA found some value in in the same spice even if its for a possible other symptom. A symptom that's near and dear to our hearts and all things PearlieMae.

""We hope that vitamin D3 and curcumin, both naturally occurring nutrients, may offer new preventive and treatment possibilities for Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Milan Fiala, study author and a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System." - UCLA (July 2009)

We couldn't find the specific research in the July issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease but UCLA says it's there. We just couldn't find the specifics. We do, like UCLA, hope that the "naturally occurring nutrients" offer new treatments as well. We'll keep watching and keep reporting what we find to you.

Vitamin E and Thee

From the people who brought you aspirin and breast cancer came the news that supplements and nutrients can have a positive effect on you. Sometime ago we told you about the University of California at Davis where the researchers were disproving the effect of supplements. Brigham and Women's Hospital as many other researchers have found what naturopathy and homeopathy have known for a long time. The right remedy for the right problem.

"The physician must be able to tell the antecedents, know the present, and foretell the future - must mediate these things, and have two special objects in view with regard to disease, namely, to do good or to do no harm. The art consists in three things - the disease, the patient, and the physician. The physician is the servant of the art, and the patient must combat the disease along with the physician." (Hippocratic Corpus)

What matters most is what works best with the least amount of damage. Like take an aspirin to fight breast cancer taking vitamins can only be better for your health. What physicians don't want you to know is that aspirin is the original natural medicine. According to Bayer it all happened in a laboratory in 1863. According to the inventor's library the history of aspirin began much earlier before 1829 with Hippocrates.

Enough about aspirin this is a story about vitamin E. So let's go back to the research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH).

Vitamin E and Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer - With regard to vitamin E, to date, very few clinical trials have evaluated its impact on lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and serving as a cancer prevention therapy among healthy persons, despite promising data from lab and observational studies. In the Women’s Health Study (WHS), BWH researchers found that vitamin E had no overall benefits on cardiovascular disease or cancer. However, it did reduce cardiovascular deaths among all women, as well as overall cardiovascular disease in the subgroup of women age 65 years and older. These secondary findings need to be explored further.... In addition, a recent analysis of previous trials of vitamin E conducted among patients at high-risk or with cardiovascular disease raised the concern that vitamin E might increase total mortality. The WHS showed that vitamin E had no effect on total mortality. (BWH)

 Yes, we know the information isn't the most recent but it goes with our earlier stories criticizing research against vitamin therapy and supplemental use from the same people who brought you the aspirin news so let us be. Thank you!

Aspirin's Best for Breast

What we love about "following the money" in research is you don't do like the news programs and run from one new study to the next. The information comes from Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). What is the information?

"Animal and in vitro studies suggest that aspirin may inhibit breast cancer metastasis. We studied whether aspirin use among women with breast cancer decreased their risk of death from breast cancer... There were 341 breast cancer deaths. Aspirin use was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer death... Among women living at least 1 year after a breast cancer diagnosis, aspirin use was associated with a decreased risk of distant recurrence and breast cancer death." (JCO)

The information is important and Brigham and Women's has been doing research on aspirin from 1976 to date. All the information isn't online but much of it still is. You would think that all the information is consistent with the latest release but surprisingly it isn't. While we only have access to the abstract from the Journal of Clinical Oncology the Hospital does have some of the information on their website in a press release.

“In this study, we saw that women who used aspirin had a significant reduction in the risk of death and recurrence of the disease when compared to women who did not use aspirin,” said Michelle Holmes, MD, DrPH, lead author of the paper and a researcher and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Channing Laboratory at BWH. (BWH)

Though the release is recent the research subjects ended at 2002. Cancer isn't the only benefit to those who use aspirin. We've run earlier articles on the research as has Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"Low-dose Aspirin Shown to Reduce Risk of First Stroke in Women - Results of 10-year clinical trial suggest most consistent benefits among women 65 years and older - Boston, MA – In a long-awaited clinical trial conducted among nearly 40,000 initially healthy middle-aged American women, regular use of low-dose aspirin over a ten-year period was found to reduce the risk of stroke 17 percent. However, among the same population, researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) also found that low-dose aspirin did not benefit most women in terms of preventing first heart attacks or cardiac deaths." (March 2005)

Less than four (4) months laters Brigham and Women's Hospital found different results.

BWH WHS researchers found in this healthy population that regular, low-dose aspirin had no overall effect in preventing cancer, including breast, colorectal and other site-specific cancers. However, researchers did find that regular low-dose aspirin therapy could confer some protection against lung cancer but recommend further study to clarify these findings. The researchers, also of Harvard Medical School, could not rule out benefits of higher doses of aspirin. In addition, researchers identified that regular intake of vitamin E supplements did not help prevent overall cardiovascular disease or cancer and did not affect total mortality. However, vitamin E did reduce cardiovascular mortality and, again, researchers recommend that this finding be explored her. (July 2005)

So the problem might just be how much is enough? The abstract doesn't really say what the magic number is, nor does the current press release. What the hospital did was eventually come to the conclusion that we came to in August 2009. Back then we said or rather discovered:

“(T)hough aspirin doesn't protect women from heart attacks their studies showed less usage provided an equal amount of results from a less frequent amount of aspirin. "Regular use of low-dose aspirin does not prevent first heart attacks in women younger than 65, as it does in men, a 10-year study of healthy women has found... ...The amount of aspirin taken by subjects in the Women's Health Study - 100 milligrams every other day - is less than the amount one gets from taking a baby aspirin, which contains 81 milligrams, every day. But the researchers noted that the smaller amount still had the intended effect on blood clotting, as evidenced by blood analyses, by reduced risk of stroke and by the greater incidence of bleeding" the March 2008 New York Times reported.” (PearlieMaes August 2009)

What Brigham and Women's Hospital eventually reported in December of 2009 was:

"Although our study found no large benefit from low-dose aspirin, the possible modest protective effect we did find warrants further study," said William G. Christen, ScD of BWH. "If future studies confirm our findings, it could be important to make the public aware of this benefit," he added.

Their research was first published in the December issue of Ophthalmology:

"Researchers, led by William G. Christen, ScD of BWH, looked at records for 39,421 women enrolled in the 10-year Women's Health Study (WHS) were used to evaluate the impact of low-dose aspirin on AMD risk. None of the women had AMD at the study outset; they were randomly assigned to take low-dose aspirin (100 mg on alternate days) or a placebo. It is known that low-dose aspirin substantially reduces the risk of serious blood vessel blockage, so researchers reasoned it might affect blood vessels that may play a role in AMD. Aspirin's anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects were also considered potentially relevant. The research was supported by the National Eye Institute."

Now that's the way a news story is suppose to go. Give us all the information currently available and that way we can make an informed decision. The same researchers that brought us: Aspirin good. Cancer bad! Brigham and Women's Hospital found some other uses for aspirin beyond the breast.

Aspirin Cures Cancer

Another review of prior research finds that the most popular form of cancer can be cured or reduced with one of the cheapest and most popular drug on the market. What the report abstract does not answer is how much or how little is necessary to get the results. The danger is in playing doctor instead of seeing a doctor and as long lines form at the emergency room and longer wait times for scheduling an appointment with our favorite physician we may try to fix ourselves. Or even worse to delay treatment rather than seeking the advice of a qualified professional.

If we answer the question do we risk you the reader making the "self fix it" decision yourself? When the news of aspirin's amazing properties began to surface to the news we would personally supplement our own medical regime with a single aspirin before bed despite prior warnings to the contrary and usually when our own perscriptions had been depleted. As far back as March 2005 the New York Times reported: "Because aspirin carries a risk of bleeding, doctors do not currently advise healthy women or healthy men with no clear risk of heart disease to take aspirin to prevent heart attacks or strokes. The study results are unlikely to change that practice."

Don't self medicate! Don't self medicate! Don't self medicate! Now how much is enough? The report does not suggest however earlier reports suggest a baby aspirin amount of a single tablet. Our own usage was always in excess of the recommended amount. A single dollar store tablet is 325 mg and the recommended amount in a child dosage is 85mg.

Our use was daily and though aspirin doesn't protect women from heart attacks their studies showed less usage provided an equal amount of results from a less frequent amount of aspirin. "Regular use of low-dose aspirin does not prevent first heart attacks in women younger than 65, as it does in men, a 10-year study of healthy women has found... ...The amount of aspirin taken by subjects in the Women's Health Study - 100 milligrams every other day - is less than the amount one gets from taking a baby aspirin, which contains 81 milligrams, every day. But the researchers noted that the smaller amount still had the intended effect on blood clotting, as evidenced by blood analyses, by reduced risk of stroke and by the greater incidence of bleeding" the March 2008 New York Times reported.

Aspirin is still a medicine and like any medicine its got its up cancer curing side and its bleeding ulcer, suicide pill of choice down side. Lets leave the prescribing to the professionals.