Tylenol (Acetaminophen), Lung Problems, Glutatione Depletion

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Thanks to B. on CFSMExperimental for calling my attention to

the first reference below:

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The study referred to:

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 May 1;171(9):966-71. Epub 2005 Feb

25.

The association of acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen with

respiratory disease and lung function.

McKeever TM, SA, Smit HA, Burney P, Britton JR, Cassano PA.

Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, Clinical Science

Building, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.

tricia.mckeever@...

RATIONALE: Oxidative stress may increase the risk of asthma,

contribute to asthma progression, and decrease lung function.

Previous research suggests that use of acetaminophen, which is

hypothesized to reduce antioxidant capacity in the lung, is

associated with an increased risk of asthma. We hypothesized that

acetaminophen use may also be associated with chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD) and decreased lung function.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between use of pain

medication, particularly acetaminophen, and asthma, COPD, and FEV1

in adults.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis using the Third National Health

and Nutrition Examination Survey.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Increased use of acetaminophen had a

positive, dose-dependent association with COPD (adjusted odds ratio

for increasing category of intake, 1.16; 95% confidence interval

[CI], 1.09-1.24; p value for trend < 0.001) and an inverse

association with lung function (daily user compared with never

users, -54.0 ml; 95% CI, -90.3 to -17.7, adjusted). Neither of these

associations was explained by overlap between COPD and asthma

occurrence. We confirmed a dose-response association of

acetaminophen use and asthma (adjusted odds ratio, 1.20; 95% CI,

1.12-1.28; p value for trend < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that use of

acetaminophen is associated with an increased risk of asthma and

COPD, and with decreased lung function.

PMID: 15735054 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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The Chest journal abstract linking acetaminophen to asthma via

glutathione depletion:

Chest. 2005 Feb;127(2):604-12.

Acetaminophen and the risk of asthma: the epidemiologic and

pathophysiologic evidence.

Eneli I, Sadri K, Camargo C Jr, Barr RG.

Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State

University, B220 Clinical Center Bldg, East Lansing, MI 48824-1313,

USA. Eneli@...

The prevalence of asthma has increased worldwide. The reasons for

this rise remain unclear. Various studies have reported an

association between acetaminophen, a widely used analgesic, and

diagnosed asthma. In a prospective cohort study, the rate of newly

diagnosed asthma was 63% higher among frequent acetaminophen users

than nonusers in multivariate analyses.

Studies of patients with asthma suggest that acetaminophen challenge

can precipitate a decline in FEV(1) > 15% among sensitive

individuals. Plausible mechanisms to explain this association

include depletion of pulmonary glutathione and oxidative stress.

This article reviews the existing literature and evaluates the

epidemiologic and pathophysiologic evidence underlying a possible

link between acetaminophen and asthma.

Publication Types:

Review

PMID: 15706003 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]