Acetaminophen may prevent muscle loss: Study

Dr. Eric Blough, an associate professor at Marshall University's Biological Sciences Department stated, "I think our findings are very promising. It appears that chronic acetaminophen can be taken safely and that it has a profound effect or what we think is a profound effect on muscle structure and functions."

Effect of acetaminophen on animals
In an animal study, the researchers found that function of the enzyme kinase B (Akt) that regulates cell growth and metabolism diminished with age.

However, the scientists found that administration of acetaminophen in the aged animals exhibited a decrease in the death of muscle cell and an enhancement in muscle cell size.

Dr Blough stated, “Using a model that closely mimics many of the age-associated physiological changes observed in humans, we were able to demonstrate that chronic acetaminophen treatment in a recommended dosage is not only safe but might be beneficial for the treatment of the muscle dysfunction many people experience as they get older.”

Implied benefits of acetaminophen on human health
As a rule, muscle mass declines with age and picks up speed with every passing year. This rate of muscle loss really begins to outpace the rate of muscle gain contributing to frailty and a loss of independence in older people.

The findings reveal that acetaminophen could be beneficial for treating muscle dysfunction and improve the quality of the ageing population.

Blough disclosed that another study published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews suggests acetaminophen could lessen gravity of age-linked hyperglycemic problems.

Lead author Dr. Miaozong Wu explained, “It is thought that acetaminophen may exert its action by decreasing the amount of reactive oxygen species.

“Given the finding that increases in reactive oxygen species may play a role in the development of several age-associated disorders, it is possible that acetaminophen could be used to treat many different types of conditions.”

The research was supported and funded by McNeill Pharmaceutical, and the details are published in the international research journal PLoS.