AN INFANT dose of aspirin taken each day may be enough to prevent bowel cancer, the world's largest meeting of cancer researchers was told yesterday.
The lowest aspirin dose with this protective effect was around 80 milligrams, the equivalent of a baby aspirin, when an adult might take 650 milligrams up to six times a day for a typical headache, the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Toronto was told.
Earlier epidemiological studies have suggested aspirin protects against the common cancer but there had been concerns about how much was necessary.
Although it is an over-the-counter drug, as many as four in every 100 cannot tolerate normal doses because of stomach problems.
The discovery that a low dose is effective is good news. "If you are going to use a drug to prevent cancer in healthy people, serious side-effects cannot be tolerated," said Dr Mack Ruffin, of Michigan University.Dr Ruffin investigated the effect of aspirin on the levels of locally-acting hormones in 65 volunteers.
Interestingly, 80 mg of aspirin is also the daily dose most doctors recommend for people at risk of heart disease. Aspirin decreases blood clotting.
