Aspirin is a staple in medication cupboards worldwide, recognized primarily for its pain-relieving and anti inflammatory properties. Nonetheless, current analysis is shedding mild on a doubtlessly game-changing position for this widespread medicine: most cancers prevention and remedy.1
Whereas aspirin’s anticancer properties have been hinted at in numerous research through the years,2 this perform has largely been missed in favor of newer, costlier medication. Now, groundbreaking experiments will not be solely reaffirming aspirin’s potential in preventing most cancers but in addition uncovering a stronger analog that might revolutionize our strategy to most cancers remedy.
This forgotten perform of aspirin, and its much more highly effective cousin, might provide new hope within the battle in opposition to one in all humanity’s most persistent well being challenges. Let’s discover the thrilling developments which are inflicting researchers to take a contemporary take a look at this acquainted drug.
Aspirin and Most cancers: Introducing 2,6-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid
In my interview with Georgi Dinkov, above, he discusses his experiments with mice utilizing a mix of B nutritional vitamins — B1, B3 and B7 — and aspirin to fight a extremely deadly type of human mantle cell lymphoma. He discovered that whereas the nutritional vitamins alone stopped tumor progress, including aspirin at a human-equivalent dose of about 1.5 grams per day led to finish tumor regression in all three check topics.
Constructing on the success with aspirin, Dinkov launched a stronger analog of aspirin often known as 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Not solely is it a lot stronger, it’s additionally rather more lipophilic, which means it has a higher affinity for lipids (fat) than water. Lipophilic compounds are usually extra simply absorbed by means of cell membranes.
Dinkov explains the theoretical foundation for utilizing this compound, which is predicated on decreasing intracellular pH to induce most cancers cell loss of life:3
“One in all Ray [Peat]’s predominant theories was that … most cancers cells … [are] metabolically dysfunctional, everyone knows that, and sometimes a cell like that commits apoptosis. However with the intention to commit apoptosis, that mechanism is managed nearly fully by the intracellular pH. And to ensure that apoptosis to happen, it must be within the acidic vary.
However the most cancers cells are alkaline as a result of exporting lactate and hydrogen ions. So, if something can drop the intracellular pH, these most cancers cells, as a result of they’re deranged, ought to truly disappear by themselves.
And one in all Peat’s solutions on the time was, ‘Why don’t you utilize the drug acetazolamide?’ which as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, will increase carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is acidic, after which that ought to permit most cancers cells to commit apoptosis.
There are some research in vitro and in vivo exhibiting that acetazolamide may match, however it didn’t actually treatment the tumors. It was a slower progress, partial regression, however it confirmed that the concept was heading in the right direction.
So, I mentioned, ‘Let’s discover one thing that’s rather more acidic than carbon dioxide.’ And that’s this 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, which is only one additional hydroxyl group on high of aspirin. Salicylic acid, actually, which is 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. After which this factor is about 10 occasions stronger than aspirin.”
Observe-up research have yielded promising outcomes, with tumors regressing after one week. Dinkov notes that 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid is, “Freely accessible. No patent, nothing on it. Fairly a number of research again within the day, however actually a really generic molecule … Grime low-cost, too. Cheaper than aspirin.”4
Simply as aspirin was developed from a pure supply (willow bark), different pure compounds, together with these derived from the leaves of the medicinal plant Lithraea molleoides,5 additionally present cytotoxic results, including to the rising physique of proof that plant-derived compounds can have vital anticancer potential. Compounds remoted from Mangifera zeylanica, a species of mango tree native to Sri Lanka, even have cytotoxic and apoptotic results.6
Aspirin-Vitamin C Mixture Treats Strong Tumors Higher Than Chemo
Whereas analysis suggests 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid may very well be a promising instrument in opposition to most cancers, aspirin additionally reveals immense promise. Your physique might profit much more when aspirin is mixed with vitamin C, which additionally has antitumor results. Latest research have proven that this mixture might be more practical in opposition to most cancers cells whereas remaining gentler on wholesome cells in comparison with standard chemotherapy medication like doxorubicin.7
In laboratory assessments, the aspirin-vitamin C mixture confirmed a robust cytotoxic impact on liver most cancers cells however was a lot much less dangerous to regular lung cells.8 This selectivity is essential for decreasing the uncomfortable side effects related to most cancers remedies. The synergy between these two widespread substances seems to boost their particular person anticancer properties, providing a safer various to harsh chemotherapies.
The potential of aspirin and vitamin C extends past the lab, with encouraging leads to animal research. When examined on rats with chemically induced liver most cancers, the mix remedy confirmed outstanding outcomes.9 After 90 days of remedy, the livers of handled rats had vital enchancment in each look and performance.
Importantly, a lot of the liver tissue appeared regular underneath microscopic examination. This mixture remedy outperformed doxorubicin in restoring liver well being and decreasing tumor markers.
Aspirin Works Synergistically with Vitamin C
In one other research, the mix of aspirin, also called acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and vitamin C, or ascorbate (AS), confirmed superior leads to shrinking tumors in comparison with both compound alone.10 When mice with strong tumors have been handled with the mix, their tumor quantity decreased by 46%, versus 40% with ASA alone and 36% with AS alone.
This synergistic impact probably stems from combining aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties with vitamin C’s potent antioxidant capabilities. The 2 compounds seem to work collectively to create a extra hostile setting for most cancers cells, impeding their progress and proliferation.
By attacking tumors by means of a number of mechanisms concurrently, the aspirin-vitamin C mixture might overcome a number of the diversifications most cancers cells sometimes develop to evade single-compound remedies.
Past simply shrinking tumors, the aspirin-vitamin C mixture considerably prolonged survival occasions and appeared to enhance general well being within the tumor-bearing mice. Mice handled with the mix survived a median of 93.5 days, in comparison with simply 54 days for untreated tumor-bearing mice — a 73% improve in lifespan.11
The mix additionally outperformed both compound alone in normalizing numerous biomarkers of liver, kidney and coronary heart perform that had been disrupted by the most cancers. Notably, the mix was in a position to improve hemoglobin ranges, doubtlessly assuaging the anemia usually related to most cancers.
These enhancements in organ perform and blood parameters counsel the aspirin-vitamin C remedy might have wide-ranging advantages for general well being and high quality of life, past simply its antitumor results.
A key mechanism behind the aspirin-vitamin C mixture’s results seems to be its highly effective modulation of oxidative stress and irritation within the physique. The research discovered that tumor-bearing mice had considerably elevated ranges of oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), together with depleted antioxidant defenses.
Therapy with aspirin and vitamin C dramatically reversed these imbalances, reducing MDA and NO whereas boosting whole antioxidant capability, glutathione and catalase exercise. By making a much less inflammatory, much less oxidative setting within the physique, the mix might make it tougher for most cancers cells to thrive and unfold.
This rebalancing of the redox state might have far-reaching results all through the physique, doubtlessly explaining the enhancements seen in a number of organ methods. The research’s findings underscore the significance of addressing persistent irritation and oxidative stress as a part of a complete strategy to most cancers remedy and prevention.
Aspirin’s Promising Function in Colorectal Most cancers Prevention
Aspirin may considerably scale back the chance of colorectal most cancers (CRC), one of many main causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Research have proven that taking at the very least 75 milligrams (mg) of aspirin day by day for a number of years can lower each the incidence and mortality of CRC.12
Curiously, the useful impact seems to be most pronounced for proximal colon cancers, that are sometimes tougher to stop by means of normal screening strategies like colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Lengthy-term aspirin use, notably for over 20 years, has been related to a outstanding 35% discount in CRC incidence.13
These findings counsel that incorporating low-dose aspirin into your long-term well being technique might provide vital safety in opposition to this widespread type of most cancers.
Past its preventive results, aspirin may enhance outcomes for these already recognized with colorectal most cancers. Analysis signifies that common aspirin use after a CRC analysis is linked to lowered dangers of each general and CRC-specific mortality. This profit seems to be notably pronounced in tumors that overexpress cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).14 Furthermore, aspirin’s protecting results aren’t restricted to colorectal most cancers alone.
Research have proven that long-term aspirin use can scale back the 20-year danger of loss of life from any most cancers by 20%, with an much more substantial 35% discount in gastrointestinal most cancers deaths.15 These findings counsel that if you happen to’re at elevated danger for most cancers or have already been recognized, aspirin use may very well be a beneficial a part of your remedy and prevention technique.
Research counsel aspirin might assist suppress tumor progress, scale back metastasis and even improve the effectiveness of different most cancers remedies.16 This multi-pronged strategy makes aspirin a very promising agent within the struggle in opposition to colorectal most cancers. For people at increased danger of CRC, akin to these with a historical past of colorectal neoplasia or genetic predisposition, aspirin might provide much more promise.
A scientific overview of research involving folks with earlier colorectal neoplasia discovered a non-statistically vital discount in superior neoplasia with low-dose aspirin use.17 Moreover, for carriers of Lynch syndrome genes, high-dose aspirin for 2 years was related to a decreased danger of colorectal most cancers.18
People with Lynch syndrome have a considerably increased lifetime danger of growing colorectal most cancers. The Nationwide Institute for Well being and Care Excellence recommends sufferers recognized with Lynch Syndrome start day by day aspirin remedy to scale back the chance of colorectal most cancers.19
Aspirin’s Broad Most cancers-Preventing Potential
Analyses of long-term cardiovascular trials have additionally revealed aspirin’s surprising energy in preventing most cancers throughout a number of websites.20 Research present vital reductions in deaths from esophageal and abdomen cancers amongst long-term aspirin customers, and knowledge point out it could additionally decrease your danger of lung, prostate and breast cancers.
Maybe most enjoyable is the potential for a 20% to 30% discount in general most cancers incidence after simply three to 5 years of day by day low-dose aspirin use.21 Additional, research constantly present that low doses — as little as 75 mg to 100 mg day by day — are simply as efficient as increased doses in decreasing most cancers danger.22
The effectiveness of low-dose regimens additionally factors to a singular mechanism of motion. Moderately than straight affecting tissues all through your physique, aspirin may match by inhibiting platelets, which play a vital position in each early most cancers improvement and later metastasis.23 Whereas some advantages of aspirin use might seem inside a number of years, different reductions in most cancers danger emerge with long-term use.
Research monitoring contributors for 20 years or extra have discovered that aspirin’s protecting results in opposition to gastrointestinal cancers develop into extra pronounced over time. For colorectal most cancers, vital reductions in incidence and mortality have been noticed 10 to twenty years after the beginning of aspirin use.24 This long-lasting impact means that aspirin could also be altering basic processes in most cancers improvement, providing enduring safety in opposition to this illness.
Aspirin’s potential as a repurposed drug for most cancers remedy is one other thrilling space of analysis.25 Aspirin works by inhibiting COX enzymes, notably COX-1 and COX-2. This mechanism not solely helps forestall coronary heart assaults however may fight most cancers in a number of methods. By inhibiting COX-1, aspirin reduces platelet aggregation round tumor cells, making these malignant cells extra seen to your immune system.26 This might assist forestall most cancers from spreading all through your physique.
Moreover, aspirin’s impact on COX-2 might straight affect tumor progress. COX-2 produces prostaglandin E2, which stimulates tumor cell progress. By decreasing prostaglandin E2 manufacturing, aspirin might gradual or forestall tumor improvement.27
The way forward for aspirin in most cancers prevention might lie in customized medication. Rising analysis has recognized a number of genetic markers that might assist predict who will profit most from aspirin remedy. For instance, sure variations in genes like UGT1A6 and ALOX12 have been related to enhanced aspirin efficacy in decreasing colorectal most cancers danger.28
Moreover, your expression ranges of enzymes like 15-PGDH might affect how effectively you reply to aspirin’s cancer-fighting properties.29 These genetic insights open up thrilling potentialities for tailoring aspirin use to your particular person genetic profile. Within the coming years, genetic testing might develop into a routine a part of figuring out whether or not aspirin is best for you and at what dose.
Willow Bark: Nature’s Time-Examined Ache Reliever
For these with aspirin sensitivity, salicylic acid or willow bark dietary supplements could also be alternate options price contemplating. If you devour aspirin, your physique converts the acetylsalicylic acid into salicylic acid, which is chargeable for aspirin’s anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antithrombotic properties. Willow bark naturally incorporates this compound.
This historical medicinal plant carries with it centuries of therapeutic knowledge, providing a compelling various to trendy prescription drugs. Willow bark’s efficacy stems from its long-standing relationship with human physiology. In contrast to laboratory-created medication, the lively compounds in willow bark have been interacting with our biochemistry for hundreds of years.
This prolonged coexistence has fostered a pure compatibility that many manmade medicines wrestle to realize.
Our ancestors’ constant, albeit minimal, consumption of those compounds over generations has allowed our our bodies to develop an environment friendly technique of processing and using them. This evolutionary adaptation underscores the potential benefits of pure cures over their artificial counterparts. Additional, analysis means that a few of willow bark’s therapeutic properties are as a result of synergistic results,30 providing advantages past these of salicylic acid alone.
The pharmaceutical trade’s improvement of aspirin within the nineteenth century marked a major shift from nature-based to laboratory-derived medication.31 Whereas this transition led to the creation of a patentable product, it did not essentially enhance upon the unique supply materials. The truth is, the enduring reputation of willow bark serves as a testomony to the ability of plant-based cures.
For these contemplating willow bark as a substitute for aspirin, notably people with aspirin sensitivity, understanding correct dosage is vital. Whereas willow bark and aspirin share comparable lively compounds, their metabolism and bioavailability differ, necessitating distinct dosing methods.
So, whereas 240 mg to 600 mg of willow bark extract (15% salicin) is commonly estimated to offer a salicin dose that’s roughly equal to 325 mg of aspirin, the overall quantity of willow bark extract wanted is usually bigger:
- To approximate the consequences of 81 mg of aspirin, a dose of 400 mg to 800 mg of willow bark extract (standardized to fifteen% salicin) is usually required.
- For results just like 111 mg of aspirin, a dose of 500 mg to 1 gram of willow bark extract (standardized to fifteen% salicin) is mostly wanted.
Suggestions for Aspirin Dosage and Length
When choosing aspirin, select immediate-release formulations relatively than coated extended-release variations to keep away from pointless components. Instant-release aspirin is on the market on Amazon. Study the inactive substances listing rigorously; ideally, corn starch must be the one additive listed.
After intensive analysis, I recognized a product assembly these specs. The suitable dosage ranges from 82 mg to 325 mg day by day, taken together with your largest meal, relying in your particular person wants.
Primarily based on my analysis into aspirin’s preventive advantages, I personally take 111 mg day by day utilizing Well being Natura’s USP grade 60 gram aspirin powder, which prices lower than $20. This 99% pure USP aspirin powder appeals to me as a result of its prometabolic, antilipolytic, anti-inflammatory, anticortisol and anti-estrogen results. Its security profile is well-established.
In the case of most cancers prevention, the dosage and length of aspirin use look like essential components. Low doses of aspirin (75 to 300 mg/day) have been proven to be as efficient as increased doses in decreasing CRC-related mortality,32 suggesting that you just needn’t take giant quantities to reap the potential advantages. Nonetheless, consistency and long-term use appear to be key.
Research point out that the advantages of aspirin improve with length of use, with probably the most vital reductions in most cancers danger noticed after 5 to 7.5 years of normal use.33 As analysis progresses, aspirin might show to be a robust new instrument in your most cancers prevention and remedy arsenal — one which’s been in your medication cupboard all alongside.
