Daily intake of aspirin- the popular anti-inflammatory drug- is linked with 20 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer, according to a new study.

The drug has been around for over a century now and is used by millions for aches and pains, fever and headache. Research has also shown that the aspirin lowers cardiac event risk. However, regular use of the drug could up eye disease risk.

An estimated 20,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. Previous research has shown that chronic inflammation may increase the odds of developing this cancer. Researchers from the U.S. National Cancer Institute wanted to know whether using non-aspirin NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) lowered ovarian cancer rates in women.

The research was based on data from 12 studies, HealthDay reported. In total, the scientists looked at information from 8000 women with cancer and 12,000 women without the disease.

In the study group,                                                                        

  • 18 percent used aspirin,
  • 24 percent used other NSAIDs, and
  • 16 percent used acetaminophen.

Researchers found that women who took the drug daily had a 20 percent lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who used the drug just once every week. The study also showed that women using other non aspirin NSAIDs had reduced risk of cancer, but the association wasn't statistically significant. Acetaminophen was not linked with reduction in ovarian cancer risk.  

"Our study suggests that aspirin regimens, proven to protect against heart attack, may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as well. However intriguing our results are, they should not influence current clinical practice. Additional studies are needed to explore the delicate balance of risk-benefit for this potential chemopreventive agent, as well as studies to identify the mechanism by which aspirin may reduce ovarian cancer risk," said Britton Trabert, Ph.D. of NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and their colleagues, according to a news release.

The study is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.