Aspirin helps women, men differently

ORLANDO, Fla. – In a stunning example of gender differences in medicine, a major study has found that aspirin helps healthy women avoid strokes but makes no difference in their risk of heart attacks unless they’re 65 or older – the polar opposite of how the drug affects men.

Aspirin is recommended now for both men and women at high risk of heart disease. Many doctors have assumed aspirin prevents heart problems in healthy women because of research showing it helps healthy men.

The Women’s Health Study was the first rigorous test of aspirin and vitamin E in women. It found that taking vitamin E did no good, adding to a large body of evidence that such supplements don’t help and might even be harmful.

“Bottom line: There wasn’t a benefit, but there wasn’t harm” from vitamin E, according to the new study, said Harvard epidemiologist Julie Buring. “The better thing to do is to have a heart-healthy diet.”

She presented results Monday at the American College of Cardiology meeting. They also were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine and will be included in the March 31 print edition.