Posted on 09/12/2025 9:28:36 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Taking low-dose colchicine daily may slow the progression of a common acquired gene mutation found in the blood of older adults that can lead to certain blood cancers and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a subanalysis of the LoDoCo2 trial.
Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is an acquired mutation in blood stem cells that is linked to risk of developing leukemia and other blood cancers. It is also associated with a more than 1.5-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, heart failure and arrhythmias. The most common driver genes that can lead to CH are DNMT3A, TET2 and ASXL1, which represent about 80% of CH cases. Research has shown that over 10% of people 70 years old and older carry one or more of these mutations and the risk increases with age.
In this study, researchers looked at a subset of participants in the LoDoCo2 Trial, which previously found that 0.5 mg daily of colchicine reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 31% in people with chronic coronary disease, to determine if colchicine also modified CH growth in the same individuals. Colchicine is a medication commonly used to treat gout and other inflammatory conditions.
Those randomized to colchicine had a non-significant 6.3% annual increase in the number of overall mutated CH cells compared to a significant 14.9% increase in those taking placebo. Colchicine was associated with significantly attenuated clonal growth in TET2 CH, specifically, with a 9.1% annual increase in TET2 clone size in the colchicine group, compared with a 29.6% increase in the placebo group.
"These findings are striking in part because larger CH clones have been more strongly linked to both cardiovascular disease and cancer, and TET2 CH in particular has been consistently associated with increased cardiovascular risk," said Michael Honigberg, MD, MPP, FACC..
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Greater than 10% of everyone 70 and older have this blood mutation.
Colchicine is commonly available for gout as a prescription.
I had a couple of gout attacks several years ago, and was prescribed colchicine. Worst diarrhea one could ever imagine.
This appears to be the lowest dose for only one time a day.
Well, I’m not going to mess with it, and advise others to avoid it as well.
Well, did you notice your gout during your diarrhea episodes?
8~)
Colchicine has an interesting history. In Greek mythology there is the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece. That was actually his search for products from medicinal crocus plants in the area of Colchis, found on the far eastern shores of the Black Sea. Colchicine comes from a certain crocus plant, and the saffron from certain crocus plants also has medicinal value. I have recently added saffron to the collection of supplements I am taking to maintain my 87 year old body. Some of the wall art found at Thera show crocus plants, so this use was established in the second millennium BC.
Interesting. Thanks
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