Ibuprofen was found harmful to liver health by a study from the University of California, Davis. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen helps people cure fever, mild cold, mild pain, and inflammation.
Ibuprofen, which may damage the gastrointestinal tract and hence liver health, is being marketed under the trade names Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin. The drug is also available over the counter.
A new study from the University of California, Davis found that the adverse effect of ibuprofen on liver health may require more serious attention.
“The liver plays a key role in energy metabolism and is essential for whole-body homeostasis [the stabilization of bodily functions] via the regulation of glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism,” the researchers wrote in their study paper.
Their study "Gender-specific changes in energy metabolism and protein degradation as major pathways affected in livers of mice treated with ibuprofen" examined the effects of ibuprofen on the liver cells of mice after giving them moderate amounts of the drug for one week.
Mass spectrometry
The researchers utilized advanced mass spectrometry. This involves methods that help determine the ratio and type of chemicals existing in a laboratory sample at any given time.
“We found that ibuprofen caused many more protein expression changes in the liver than we expected,” said study co-author Prof. Aldrin Gomes.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, revealed that in the male mice’ livers, there were changes in 34 metabolic pathways.
These include amino acids, vitamins, hormones, and the release of reactive oxygen and hydrogen peroxide within cells.
On the other hand, the ibuprofen regimen stimulated the activity of some cytochrome P450s, a class of enzyme that helps break down drugs, among female mice.
“The [observations about] cytochrome P450 could mean that other drugs taken with ibuprofen could stay in the body for a longer duration in males, and this has never been shown before,” said Prof. Gomes.
