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Aspirine kan meer kwaad doen dan goed*
Uit een analyse van 9 studies met totaal ruim 100.000 deelnemers die zes jaar lang gevolgd werden blijkt dat het uit voorzorg innemen van aspirine door gezonde mensen meer kwaad dan goed kan doen. In de studies kreeg de helft van de deelnemers dagelijks aspirine en de andere helft een placebo. Alhoewel de inname van aspirine de kans op een hartziekte met 10% deed afnemen, hoofdzakelijk de kans op een niet fatale hartaanval, veranderde er niets aan de kans op een beroerte of het doodgaan aan een hartziekte of een beroerte. Wel werd de kans op ernstige interne bloedingen 30% hoger. Ook werd geen duidelijk voordeel geconstateerd m.b.t. de kans op doodgaan aan kanker. Dit is op heden de grootste studie over aspirine uitgevoerd onder gezonde mensen zonder voorgeschiedenis van een hartziekte. 
Effect of Aspirin on Vascular and Nonvascular Outcomes 
Given controversies surrounding the net benefit of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and recent evidence of its protective role against cancer, Seshasai et al present the largest literature-based meta-analysis to date on the wider effects of aspirin in this population. Using information from up to 9 relevant randomized controlled trials involving over 100 000 participants, the authors demonstrate that aspirin, given for a mean period of approximately 6 years, significantly reduced the risk of all CVD events (by 10%, with a number needed to treat of 120), although this was largely driven by reductions in risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction (20%; number needed to treat, 162). However, these benefits were importantly offset by an excess risk (30%) of clinically nontrivial bleeding events (number needed to harm, 73). Furthermore, there was no significant reduction in CVD death or all-cause mortality and, contrary to recent suggestions, there was no significant benefit of aspirin prophylaxis on cancer mortality. The authors conclude that routine use of aspirin for primary prevention of CVD is not warranted in contemporary practice, and any indications for its use are best considered on a case-by-case basis.
Effect of Aspirin on Vascular and Nonvascular Outcomes
Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials 
Sreenivasa Rao Kondapally Seshasai, MD, MPhil; Shanelle Wijesuriya, MA, MBBChir; Rupa Sivakumaran, MA, MBBChir; Sarah Nethercott, MA, MBBChir; Sebhat Erqou, MD, PhD; Naveed Sattar, MD, PhD; Kausik K. Ray, MD 
Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(3):209-216. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.628
Background The net benefit of aspirin in prevention of CVD and nonvascular events remains unclear. Our objective was to assess the impact (and safety) of aspirin on vascular and nonvascular outcomes in primary prevention.
Data Sources MEDLINE, Cochrane Library of Clinical Trials (up to June 2011) and unpublished trial data from investigators.
Study Selection Nine randomized placebo-controlled trials with at least 1000 participants each, reporting on cardiovascular disease (CVD), nonvascular outcomes, or death were included.
Data Extraction Three authors abstracted data. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. Risks vs benefits were evaluated by comparing CVD risk reductions with increases in bleeding.
Results During a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.0 (2.1) years involving over 100 000 participants, aspirin treatment reduced total CVD events by 10% (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.96; number needed to treat, 120), driven primarily by reduction in nonfatal MI (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.96; number needed to treat, 162). There was no significant reduction in CVD death (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.85-1.15) or cancer mortality (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84-1.03), and there was increased risk of nontrivial bleeding events (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.14-1.50; number needed to harm, 73). Significant heterogeneity was observed for coronary heart disease and bleeding outcomes, which could not be accounted for by major demographic or participant characteristics.
Conclusions Despite important reductions in nonfatal MI, aspirin prophylaxis in people without prior CVD does not lead to reductions in either cardiovascular death or cancer mortality. Because the benefits are further offset by clinically important bleeding events, routine use of aspirin for primary prevention is not warranted and treatment decisions need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. (Februari 2012) 

Volgens recente studies is voor gezonde mensen ter voorkoming van een hartaanval of beroerte resveratrol een veel beter alternatief.