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New York – A team of researchers, headed up by Dr. Eric A. Singer at the University of Rochester Medical Center, has released a study that suggests certain kinds of pain relievers may lower a man’s PSA level, which is the main indicator when screening for prostate cancer.

The national study involved 1319 men and revealed that men taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, had about a 10% drop in their prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, levels compared to those men that didn’t take NSAIDs.

At this point researchers are not clear whether NSAIDs can decrease the chances of contracting prostate cancer, or if it just masks one of the potential signs of the disease. Further studies are being planned with this specific question in mind, which should clarify the results.

NSAIDs are inflammation reducers, and prostate cancer is one of many conditions linked to chronic inflammation. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes, which factor into inflammation. Some common NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen. Some signs of decreased PSA levels were also detected with the use of acetaminophen, or paracetamol, but less than 2% of the men in the study were regular users of acetaminophen as compared to nearly 20% that regularly used ibuprofen, aspirin, and similar NSAIDs.

Dr. Singer and his team state that the findings:

“Suggest that regular NSAID consumption may reduce serum PSA levels. Whether this is indicative of a protective effect on prostate cancer risk or masks possible prostate injury resulting in reduced detection of prostate cancer is unclear. Given the widespread consumption of NSAIDs and the regular use of PSA for the assessment of prostate cancer risk, the potential implications of the current study’s findings may be substantial and warrant further investigation.”

Read the full report in the September 8th online issue of “Cancer” magazine.