Scientists from the University of Leeds have concluded that aspirin and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) help reduce the number of precancerous polyps in patients at high risk of developing bowel cancer
The news about the experts' discovery was published on the medical portal MedicalXpress.
More than 700 patients from 53 English hospitals participated in the clinical trial. The participants were divided into four groups.
Every day for a year, the first group took 300 milligrams of aspirin, the second - two grams of eicosapentaenoic acid, the third - both substances together, and the fourth - a placebo.
After a colonoscopy, experts found that in the first group, the number of precancerous polyps decreased by 22% compared to those who took a placebo. Meanwhile, in the second group, their number decreased by 9%.
Compared to the fourth group, this one had 25% fewer polyps in the left side of the intestine.
In the third group, specialists observed the most significant result, but according to scientists, further studies are needed to determine the effect of the combination of aspirin and eicosapentaenoic acid on precancerous polyps.
"Prevention is key to fighting this common disease and it is surprising that a combination of widely available and relatively inexpensive drugs has such an impact," said Prof David Crossman.
