Coated Aspirin the cause of “resistance”?

PHILADEPHIA – Researchers at the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, U Penn, have shed doubt upon the generally accepted view that some people are genetically ‘resistant’ to the use of Aspirin for protecting their hearts. Instead, their study suggests, it is coatings added to the tablets which may be to blame. The coatings on some tablets have been introduced in order to make Aspirin less of a problem to the gastric tract – particularly following a greater awareness of the involvement of aspirin and some ulcers.

The study suggests that the coating actually slows the absorption of the active ingredient, stopping it from having its full desired effect. In fact, the authors report that they could not find anyone out of a pool of 400 volunteers who was actually resistant to the beneficial effects of the medicine.

A daily dose of aspirin is given for many reasons, including:

  • Following cardiac stenting
  • To those with a history of heart disease
  • In the presence of some arrythmias
  • Prophylatically in at-risk populations

The study did indicate that coated Aspirin was functional in many persons, which by no means rules out its continued use. However, it may be that some people will need to avoid this particular form of the medicine to obtain the greatest effect.

Comments are closed.