Taking aspirin on a regular basis may protect against major cancers of the digestive tract, including stomach, bowel and esophageal cancers.

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) reviewed all evidence available from numerous clinical trials regarding the benefits as well as risks of taking aspirin as a preventative measure against cancer.

Previous studies have also shown that taking a low dose of aspirin daily can help to lower the risk of developing other types of cancers, including colorectal, prostate, breast, and certain types of skin cancers.

Lead study author Professor Jack Cuzick, Head of QMUL’s Centre for Cancer Prevention (London, UK), and colleagues discovered that taking a daily dose of between 75 to 100 mg of aspirin for at least five to 10 years can reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by 35 percent. Stomach and esophageal cancer risks can be cut by 30 percent with a daily dose of aspirin.

Risks of taking aspirin every day were also analyzed. The more common side effects of taking aspirin every day include bleeding of the digestive tract, and peptic ulcer. The risk of each side effect from taking daily aspirin increased by 3.6 percent and 30 to 60 percent respectively.

“Whilst there are some serious side effects that can’t be ignored, taking aspirin daily looks to be the most important thing we can do to reduce cancer after stopping smoking and reducing obesity, and will probably be much easier to implement,” said Cuzick in a statement.

The findings of the study are published journal Annals of Oncology.