Viagra has indeed changed the lives of several men in the last two decades. It has distinctive physiological effects in males. Viagra can help males who cannot maintain or achieve an erection due to erectile dysfunction. Although it cannot provide any kind of sexual stimulation, it can improve erectile response considerably when men are already sexually stimulated.
Now, this little blue pill has an unexpected side effect that points out to a greater transformative ability that the medical science was absolutely unaware of. And best part is, this potential might be able to save around a million lives each year. Researches who are studying effects of Viagra (Sildenafil) on mice have recently discovered that a daily, small dose of this medication in the water that the animals drink, significantly reduces the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
More About the Research
Darren D. Browning, biochemist at Augusta University, Georgia [1] reveals that a small dose of Viagra can cut down the risk of tumors in these animals by almost 50%. We must also keep in our minds that this research is yet to be conducted on humans and is only conducted on animal models. The researchers are positive that the next step of research is to conduct a study on humans who are at high risk of colorectal cancer or those who have family history of this cancer. These genetically predisposed humans would be perfectly suited for observing the effects of daily, small doses of Viagra. Undoubtedly, if this kind of human trial is given a go-ahead by the concerned authorities and the results are similar as observed in the animals, then this would be a great step towards saving millions of lives globally each year.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and globally affects more than a million people each year. Around 50,000 of these patients die each year in the U.S. Now, with the research, we can expect that Viagra can cut down these numbers significantly. Viagra has astonishing effects on the tissues that may turn cancerous.
The researchers also tried the same experiment with another drug known as linaclotide, which is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. Linaclotide was found to be even more effective than Viagra. This drug, however, comes with a rather nasty side-effect. Even a small dose of this drug can cause diarrhoea and considering this it would not be a great idea to continue consumption of this drug for prolonged duration.
How Can Viagra Prevent Colorectal Cancer?
Fortunately, Viagra in small doses does not produce any side effect and that makes it much safer. This drug can effectively prevent spread of the polyps. Viagra boosts the production of a chemical known as cyclic GMP inside the body. The exact mechanism by which the cyclic GMP helps the intestinal lining is still unknown but it suppresses the excessive cell proliferation and prevent new cell formation in the gut.
Our gut has to basically deal with whatever we put inside our mouths each day and that is the reason why it has high cell turnover, and this also contributes to polyp formation. More the new cells are formed, more are the chances of something going wrong. Cyclic GMP apparently only promotes the normal cell formation and eliminates the risk of any abnormal counterparts.
Browning explains when we consume Viagra, we significantly shrink the whole proliferation mechanism as the proliferating cells are more vulnerable to cancer causing mutations. This is not the first discovery of a health benefit of Viagra, other than its effectiveness in treating erectile dysfunction. The research highlights that scientists are continuously trying to discover new molecular mechanisms and interventions in older and commonly used drugs.
In case of colorectal cancer, Viagra can possibly not affect the already existing polyps but it might effectively prevent new polyp formation. Seems that Viagra has a more important role in cancer prevention.
This research was also recently published online in the journal Cancer Prevention Research [2]