Paracetamol, or acetaminophen, taken alone or in combination with other drugs, is one of the most used drugs in the world. It is sold generically and under the popular brand name Tylenol and can relieve fever and mild to moderate pain.
According to a 2005 study, too much acetaminophen in a short period of time can cause acute and even fatal liver damage, with approximately 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 500 deaths linked to the drug each year.
The adverse effects of a drug on the liver are caused by how the body metabolizes it. The main culprit appears to be an enzyme called CYP2E1-s, which breaks down acetaminophen into byproducts that can be toxic to the liver at high concentrations.
According to scientists’ hypotheses, yes magnesium helps with acetaminophen-related liver damage because it plays an important role in keeping many parts of the body healthy, including the heart, by influencing hundreds of different enzymes.
Specifically, oral magnesium stimulates intestinal bacteria called Bifidobacterium metabolism, leading to increased levels of the compound indole-3-carboxylic acid and subsequently to inactivation of CYP2E1.
This is demonstrated by experiments conducted by researchers with mice, pigs and humans, in which human microbiomes taken from human magnesium supplements were planted in the intestines of mice, after which the animals were given high doses of paracetamol.
According to the study authors, oral magnesium intake is a potentially safe and effective strategy for the prevention of CYP2E1-mediated acute liver failure. However, the results are mostly limited to animals, so it has not been proven that such a method can also protect humans. Additionally, a complicating factor is the fact that people are different and their microbiomes may respond differently to magnesium.
Researchers say there may be safer ways to deal with acute liver damage caused by acetaminophen in the future.
2023-12-08 16:00:00
how-to-prevent-liver-damage-caused-by-paracetamol