An Aspirin a day may keep osteoporosis at bay: study

Aspirin may become the newest tool in the battle against osteoporosis, suggests new research.

Researchers at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry tested the effects of Aspirin on mice, and found it prevented improper bone resorption the process by which bone turns over and releases minerals. It also prevented the death of bone-forming stem cells.

In osteoporosis, bone turns over more than it is rebuilt, leading to brittle, easily fractured bones.

Tests were conducted on mice whose ovaries had been removed, leading to a decrease in the production of estrogen and the onset of osteoporosis. They were given 0.6mg/ml of Aspirin dissolved in water.

The bone density of the mice increased significantly over time, found the study, published online Wednesday in the journal PloS ONE.

As well, the researchers discovered that T-lymphocytes, immune system cells known to overactivate osteoclasts (bone cells that reabsorb bone material from the skeleton), actually attack healthy stem cells. They discovered this by infusing the mice with T-cells, which in turn caused osteoclast numbers to rise and bone turnover to increase.

Aspirin, which promotes the formation of osteoblasts (cells that create bone), could be used to halt this process, the researchers believe.

"We've shown how Aspirin both inhibits bone resorption and promotes osteoblast formation," said Songtao Shi, associate professor at the USC School of Dentistry's Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, in a release.

Currently, drugs called bisphosphonates are often used to treat osteoporosis, by inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts and preventing the death of osteoblasts.

Some 44 million Americans, 68 per cent of whom are women,have osteoporosis, according to the study.

According to Osteoporosis Canada, the disease affects 1.4 million Canadiansincluding one in four women over 50, and at least one in eight men over 50. Younger people can also be at risk.