By David Liu, Ph.D. and editing by Aimee Keenan-Green

Taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) for a long period may help reduce risk of prostate cancer, a new study suggests.

The research released on May 17, 2011 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention also suggests taking acetaminophen, a commonly used painkiller, may also help cut the risk.

Acetaminophen is not considered an NSAID, but like NSAIDS it possesses anti-inflammatory properties.  Early studies hint that inflammation and infections may increase risk of cancers. 

The current study led by E. J. Jacobs and colleagues of the American Cancer Society found men taking acetaminophen for more than five years reduced their overall risk of prostate cancer by about 40 percent and aggressive prostate cancer by about 50 percent.

Jacobs et al. examined the association between acetaminophen use and incidence of prostate cancer among 78,000 men enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort.  Participants self-reported use of acetaminophen at baseline in 1992 and in 1997 and every two years afterward.

Between 1992 and 2007, 8,000 incident prostate cancer cases were recorded.  

The researchers found currently using more than 30 pills of acetaminophen-based products per month for five or more years was correlated with 38 percent reduced risk of overall prostate cancer and 51 percent reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

However, those currently using acetaminophen, but for less than five years did not reduce their risk for prostate cancer.

The analysis considered other factors including age, race, education, BMI, diabetes status, NSAID use, and history of prostate specific-antigen testing.

Inflammation is likely a risk factor for prostate cancer, according to previous studies. Because of this, anything anti-inflammatory may potentially help cut the cancer risk.

H. K. Koul of University of Colorado Denver reported in the December 2010 issue of Drugs Today that "infections and inflammatory responses are linked to 15 to 20% of all deaths from cancer worldwide."

Specifically, they reviewed early studies on the effect of inflammation and infections on prostate cancer risk, and found age-related inflammation and infection may play an important role  in the development and progression of prostate cancer.

So what causes inflammation?

Studies have suggested that increased serum levels of cholesterol may increase the risk of prostate cancer. That is why some studies have associated use of statins with lower risk of prostate cancer.

Foodconsumer.org has extensively reported on how to prevent prostate cancer by following a healthy diet.  Read more on the site for details.