Daily intake of aspirin, even at low doses, could contribute to the onset of anemia in the elderly.
- Anemia results in an abnormal drop in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Iron deficiency is usually the main cause of anemia.
- A new study has observed that taking aspirin daily may increase the risk of anemia.
Thanks to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, aspirin is generally prescribed to reduce fever and pain. According to a recent study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, this drug could increase the risk of anemia even when taken in low doses.
Could aspirin increase the risk of anemia?
To reach this conclusion, scientists from Monash University in Melbourne (Australia) looked at the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, which included 19,114 people aged 70 and over. Participants were randomly assigned to take 100 mg of aspirin daily or a placebo.
Anemia is characterized by an abnormal drop in the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Several causes can be responsible for this disorder, but iron deficiency is the most common factor. During the study, the researchers therefore measured the hemoglobin level of the participants. The level of ferritin, a protein capable of storing iron, was also assessed at the start of the work and three years later.
A 23.5% risk of anemia in people over 70
The researchers found a decrease in hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations in patients treated with aspirin. According to the results, volunteers who received a daily low dose of aspirin had a 23.5% risk of developing anemia compared to the control group.
One of the complications associated with taking aspirin is an increased risk of bleeding, particularly at the gastrointestinal level. The scientists therefore suggested that the reduction in hemoglobin level was probably due to blood loss given the greater drop in ferritin in the volunteers who received aspirin.
