Acetaminophen May Have Potential as
Antioxidant
Copyright 1998 Business Wire
July 29, 1998
Research Shows Pain Reliever May Help Protect Against Changes
Leading to
Hardening of Arteries
New research suggests that acetaminophen, a widely used pain
reliever, may
help protect the blood from changes leading to hardening of the
arteries -- a
condition that contributes to
hundreds of thousands of deaths per year from stroke, heart attack,
and other
forms of cardiovascular disease. Addison A. Taylor, MD, PhD,
Professor of
Medicine and Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Center for
Experimental
Therapeutics, Houston, presented the findings at today's session of
the
Thirteenth IUPHAR
Congress of Pharmacology in Munich. Dr. Taylor reported findings
in 12 healthy
human volunteers suggesting an association between the use of
acetaminophen at
recommended doses and a significant inhibition of the oxidation of
certain
low-density lipoproteins, which carry the form of cholesterol
commonly
described as
"bad cholesterol."
"The oxidation of cholesterol-containing, low-density
lipoproteins is one of the
main processes involved in the formation of arterial plaque, which
accumulates
in the walls of blood vessels and contributes to hardening of the
arteries, or
atherosclerotic disease," explained Dr. Taylor.
"While further study is required to make any
definitive association between acetaminophen and a protective
effect in
patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, what we observed is
promising and
may suggest a potential clinical role for acetaminophen as an
antioxidant," said Dr. Taylor. Antioxidants are substances
that counteract the damaging
effects of oxygen in
tissues. Vitamin E, which is among the more commonly known
antioxidant agents,
is believed to provide protection against certain forms of
cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions.
The study conducted by Dr. Taylor and his associates was a
randomized, blinded,
placebo-controlled trial involving the administration of eight
doses of
acetaminophen (1,000 mg doses every six hours). Plasma samples from
patients
who received acetaminophen were then compared with those from
patients who
received no treatment.
Dr. Taylor noted that the results of this study support those
reported by other
investigators.
"Although our research was the first to examine the effects of
acetaminophen on
low-density lipoproteins in humans, other investigators have
reported similar
findings in laboratory settings," said Dr. Taylor.
"The next step
will be to confirm these findings in larger studies, both in
animals and in
humans." Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to coronary
heart disease and stroke.
Coronary heart disease is the country's number one killer of both
men and
women, while stroke claims an estimated 150,000
U.S. lives each year. Baylor College of Medicine is a leading
research and
teaching institution. The college's Center for Experimental
Therapeutics
examines the effects of drugs on man with special emphasis on
cardiovascular
disease.
Comments on this posting?
Click here to
post a public comment on the Trash Talk
Bulletin Board.
Click here to send a private
comment to the Junkman.
Material presented on this home page constitutes opinion of
Steven J. Milloy.
Copyright © 1998 Steven
J. Milloy. All rights reserved on original material. Material
copyrighted by others is used either with permission or under a
claim of "fair
use." Site developed and hosted by WestLake
Solutions, Inc.