Was it the aspirin or was it magnesium?

Aspirin used in studies is often buffered.  The buffering agent is magnesium.  Why is that important?  Because aspirin is often given credit for results that are actually due to magnesium.  For example, a study last year demonstrated that increased magnesium intake could reduce colon cancer by 50 percent. 

Similarly, aspirin is wrongly given credit for being able to prevent heart attacks, but when you look at the studies which appeared to show prevention you find that the aspirin was buffered with magnesium (and studies on aspirin which was not similarly buffered did not produce such results.

Magnesium has proven cancer-preventive properties the same as it has proven benefits for the heart and cardiovascular system.  Likewise, deficiences in magnesium have been assoiciated with increased cancer and cardiovascular disease risks/  It is estimated that anywhere from 70% to as many as 95% of us are deficient in magnesium.  I daresay that NONE of us are deficient in aspirin.