Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or statins (used to lower cholesterol) lowers PSA levels in men according to a study at Duke University of 1,214 men who were followed from 1990 to 2006.

The men in this study were on statin treatment to lower their LDL and pre-statin treatment showed PSA levels that made them likely candidates for prostate biopsy. After being on the statins, there was a 17.4% decline in their PSA.

Similarly, a study of 1,277 men conducted at Vanderbilt University examined the effects of NSAIDs in men 40 or older who were scheduled for prostate biopsy. PSA values were 9% lower in men who took aspirin compared with those who did not.

Screening PSA is already controversial and these results only complicate the matter. Do statins and NSAIDs mask prostate cancer by lowering PSA significantly or do they actually reduce the risk of prostate cancer? Given that many men take a daily aspirin or a statin for cardiovascular health, more research on finding a reliable marker of prostate cancer needs to be found.

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