Taking two aspirins a week can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in adults living unhealthy lifestyles, a new study has revealed. The research, conducted by Mass General Brigham included around 108,000 health professionals for the study - most around 50 years of age.

Researchers recorded their aspirin intake and assigned them a lifestyle score based on their body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet, and tendency to smoke cigarettes. The participants took two or more standard tablets which is 325 milligrams each or at least six low-dose pills or 81 milligrams each per week.

Participants were followed for more than 30 years, with researchers documenting about 2,500 cases of colorectal or colon cancer – which develops from polyps in your colon's inner lining. If left untreated, colon cancer may spread to other areas of your body and can be life-threatening.

The study deduced that unhealthy lifestyles – people who were obese and indulged in heavy smoking, enjoyed the greatest benefits of aspirin compared to healthier people. The unhealthy participants had a 3.4 per cent chance of getting colorectal cancer if they did not regularly take aspirin versus a 2.1 per cent chance if they did.

The study, published in JAMA Oncology, said among those who followed a healthier lifestyle, the rates of colorectal cancer rates were 1.5 per cent in the group that regularly took aspirin and 1.6 per cent in those who did not. “Our results show that aspirin can proportionally lower the markedly elevated risk in those with multiple risk factors for colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Daniel Sikavi, lead author of the paper and a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“In contrast, those with a healthier lifestyle have a lower baseline risk of colorectal cancer, and, therefore, their benefit from aspirin was still evident, albeit less pronounced,” Dr. Sikavi added.

How does aspirin help reduce colon cancer risk?

According to experts, aspirin can inhibit the cyclooxygenase or COX enzyme. The medicine begins the production of two tumour-inhibiting microRNA molecules known as miR-34a and miR-34b/c. It also binds to and activates other enzymes which help regulate cellular metabolism. Ultimately, the medicine lowers oxidative stress and reduces systemic inflammation – to go to the cell nucleus and activate the expression of the miR-34 genes there.

Aspirin also stops the oncogene products that play an important role in tumour formation and growth.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, with more than 1.9 million new cases occurring in 2020. According to estimates, there will be 3.2 million new cases of colorectal cancer by 2040.

Doctors say this cancer affects your colon wall - made of layers of mucous membrane, tissue, and muscle. Colon cancer starts in the mucosa - the innermost lining of your colon, mutating the cells that form colon polyps. Over time, polyps become cancerous. According to experts, colon cancer typically affects people aged 50 years and older. However, in the last few years, unhealthy lifestyles have led to a significant rise in those affected even aged 20 years.

Even though you can have colon cancer without having symptoms, a few common ones include:

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