Guest guest Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 Mon, 5 May 2003 16:30:01 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson He said, N said HE SAID, N SAID Health Sciences Institute e-Alert May 5, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, You may have heard the news that the regular use of aspirin or ibuprofen may help prevent breast cancer. An HSI member named Tina heard, and wrote with this question: " There has been media coverage lately of a large study showing that women taking aspirin 3 times weekly cut their risk of breast cancer by as much as 30%. Comments? " On the surface, this appears to be promising news. But there are a number of ifs, ands, and buts to consider, as well as an important warning. In other words: don't start an aspirin or ibuprofen regimen until you have all the facts. ----------------------------- First: the good news ----------------------------- I don't want to completely spoil the party, so let's start with the good news - in fact the best news: women who take ibuprofen two or more times each week may experience almost 50 percent reduced risk of developing breast cancer. This is according to a study from Ohio State University, published in the Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research. The OSU researchers examined data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), an ongoing National Cancer Institute study of more than 80,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79. None of the women had cancer at the outset of the study, and their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs') such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as acetaminophen (which is not a NSAID) was recorded in surveys. The findings: Women who took standard doses of NSAIDs' two or more times each week for five to nine years showed a 21 percent breast cancer risk reduction, while those who took the same drugs for more than ten years had a 28 percent risk reduction. As I mentioned above, ibuprofen intake approximately doubled the benefits, but neither acetaminophen nor low doses of aspirin (less then 100 mg) were shown to lower the risk of breast cancer at all. ----------------------------- Mixing but not matching ----------------------------- It's not entirely a surprise that NSAIDs' might have a preventive effect on breast cancer. NSAIDs' block Cox-2 enzymes that trigger the type of inflammation thought to be responsible for the creation of blood vessels that feed cancer cells, and the promotion of cancer cell division. But of course, there's a down side. As we've discussed in other e-Alerts and Members Alerts, all NSAIDs', including aspirin and ibuprofen, have been shown to contribute to liver and kidney impairment, and gastrointestinal conditions such as bleeding and ulcers. Add to that a study late last year that associated NSAIDs' with an increased risk of hypertension in women, and you have an over-the-counter medication that rivals its pharmaceutical brethren for side effects. In addition, as I told you in an e-Alert last fall ( " Still Booming " 11/26/03), mixing different NSAIDs' or NSAIDs' with acetaminophen, can lead to other kinds of problems. Say, for instance, you take an 81 mg tablet of aspirin daily to reduce heart attack risk. If you begin taking ibuprofen to help prevent breast cancer, according to a 2001 study the ibuprofen will block aspirin's antiplatelet abilities. So you decide to drop the ibuprofen, and increase your aspirin intake. But sometimes you have arthritis flare-ups that the aspirin doesn't relieve, so instead of relying on the ibuprofen, you take acetaminophen. Now the problem is the aspirin and acetaminophen interaction - because a high intake of acetaminophen can cause serious damage to the liver and other organs, and when acetaminophen and aspirin intake are combined, that risk doubles! Obviously, once an NSAID medication is put to work as a preventive (whether for breast cancer or hearth health) it may complicate the additional use of NSAIDs' for reducing pain. ----------------------------- A reasonable trade-off? ----------------------------- The lead researcher of the OSU study, Randall Harris, M.D., Ph.D., called for a clinical trial of NSAIDs' to determine the ideal dosage for the prevention of breast cancer, but added that it might be just fine to go ahead and begin recommending the drugs for that use. He also believes that further studies that test the effectiveness of prescription Cox-2 inhibitors (such as Celebrex and Vioxx) are needed. Such studies are almost certainly in the works already - probably underwritten by the makers of Celebrex or Vioxx. I have to think that any pharmaceutical company that makes a high-profile Cox-2 inhibitor would like nothing more than to be able to say that its best selling arthritis medication also lowers risk of breast cancer. But of course, along with the extra strength of the prescription drugs comes a list of side effects that make the NSAIDs' side effects look like child's play. At least two doctors associated with the National Cancer Institute have disagreed with Dr. Harris' optimism about recommending NSAIDs' for breast cancer prevention at this time, and I think their caution is wise. It's a package that looks good on the outside, but inside there's a tangle of pros and cons that may help prevent one deadly disease, while triggering other chronic conditions. ************************************************************** ....and another thing Sometimes you just have to keep trying until you get it right. In an e-Alert I sent you in March about several natural alternatives for sugar ( " The Sweet Life " 3/1003), an HSI member named Kathy offered this tip about stevia: " Regarding stevia, not all brands are created equal. I have switched to Kal's and, like the package states, there is no unpleasant aftertaste. And, happily, Kal's is cheaper. " Kathy's comment brought additional e-mails from several members who seemed to be unconvinced that any brand of stevia could be anything but bitter. Then a few days ago I heard from Kathy again with another good stevia tip: " I'm the one who recommended Kal's stevia. There is another important factor regarding using stevia and that is too much doesn't taste good even if it is Kal's. As a reference point only 1/8 teaspoon is plenty to sweeten two large mugs of tea. Sometimes I use a small amount of stevia like 1/8 teaspoon in a dessert and reduce the regular sweetener by half. The problem with stevia is measuring out small enough amounts. And we're talking about the white, powdered extract not the green, powdered stevia leaf. " Maybe this sweet new information is all that was needed to win over those folks who took one taste of stevia and passed on it. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Copyright ©1997-2003 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please click here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html ************************************************************** ************************************************************** If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past e-Alerts and products or you're an HSI member and would like to search past articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com ************************************************************** To learn more about HSI, call (203) 699-4416 or visit http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/HSI/WHSIC313/home.cfm. ************************************************************** Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc. To , e-mail to: Gettingwell- Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. 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