Common Painkiller, Ibuprofen, Extends Lifespan Of Several Organisms

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Common Painkiller, Ibuprofen, Extends Lifespan Of Several Organisms

December 19, 2014 | by Justine Alford

photo credit: Jan Mika / Shutterstock. Image 199312313.

When we have a headache or painful joints, the first thing that many of us reach for is ibuprofen, the common, over-the-counter painkiller that’s probably in your medicine cabinet. But it turns out that ibuprofen could have benefits far greater than curing your hangover: it could increase longevity. As described in PLOS Genetics, researchers found that regular doses of the drug extended the lifespan of yeast, worms and fruit flies in the lab. No, none of those are humans, or even mammals, but the fact that we see the same thing in different kingdoms of life raises the possibility that the same could be true for us.

Aging is the biggest risk factor for numerous serious diseases, such as cancer and dementia, so it’s no wonder that researchers are keen to delay it for the benefit of our health. Testing out drugs for their ability to increase lifespan is actually relatively easy, thanks to model organisms such as yeast and worms which are quick and simple to grow. But screening thousands of potential compounds is an arduous task, to say the least, and the results would be meaningless if candidates turn out to be toxic to humans. This is why scientists have started to focus their attention on drugs that are already used on humans.

One group of drugs that has piqued the interest of researchers recently is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which are used to treat pain, fever and inflammation. That’s because aging and inflammation are tightly integrated, although cause and effect are unclear at the moment. And it seems that scientists may be onto something as studies have already shown that aspirin is capable of extending the lifespan of worms in the lab. Another NSAID that researchers thought might be worth investigating is ibuprofen, which has already been shown to lower the risk of developing certain age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

To find out more, scientists from the Buck Institute and Texas A&M University administered doses of ibuprofen comparable to those used in humans to three diverse model organisms: yeast, worms and flies. They found that the drug increased the lifespan of all three species, indicating a conserved longevity effect. Yeast given the anti-inflammatory lived around 17% longer compared to controls, and the other two had their lifespans increased by around 10%. Furthermore, the organisms also appeared healthier.

Further examination in yeast also hinted at the likely mechanism behind the increase in longevity. They found that ibuprofen decreased the uptake of an amino acid—the building blocks of proteins—called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning it is essential for our life but cannot be synthesized by the body, and therefore must be obtained from our diet. The researchers discovered that ibuprofen destabilizes the membrane protein involved in transporting this amino acid into the cell, resulting in around a 15% decrease in tryptophan levels.

Of course, the work is proof of principle, so it doesn’t necessarily mean we will see the same in humans. However, the researchers think it’s worth pursuing more animal studies, starting off with mice. “We are not sure why this works,” lead scientist Michael Polymenis said in anews release, “but it’s worth exploring further.”

[Via PLOS Genetics, Buck Institute, Texas A&M and Science]

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[size=0.92em]Know your painkillers

[size=1.15em]Most of us reach for the painkillers when we feel a headache coming on, but a third of UK adults don't know the difference between common analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol

The survey involving over 1,000 people was carried out by Panadol to coincide with Ask About Medicines Week, a campaign that aims to encourage all of us to ask more questions about medicines as we get older. One in three people said that they would take the first available medicine. Women were more likely to make an informed choice, with 39 percent thinking about which medicine to take compared with only 27 percent of men. Most people knew that some painkillers should be avoided for individuals with certain medical conditions but 40 percent had no idea what these painkillers were.   

What are the differences between paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen?   

Paracetamol  

Adult dose of paracetamol: 500mg -1g every four to six hours, maximum 4g daily.  

What is paracetamol? Paracetamol is a non-opioid (or non-narcotic) painkiller.   

When should you take paracetamol? Paracetamol is used to ease mild to moderate pain from headaches, toothache, muscle and joint pains and period pains.   

What are the dangers of taking paracetamol? Paracetamol side-effects are rare if you do not take more than the maximum recommended dose. However, it can be very dangerous if you take an overdose.   

Taking paracetamol with other medications? It is usually safe to take paracetamol with other medications but check with your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer from liver or kidney problems. And be careful if you're taking other non-prescription remedies, such as cold treatments, which may also contain paracetamol.   

Go to page two to find out about aspirin.

Aspirin  

Adult dose of aspirin: 300-900 mg every four to six hours, maximum 4g daily.   

What is aspirin? Aspirin belongs to the group of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

When should you take aspirin? Aspirin can be used to relieve pain and inflammation caused by rheumatic and muscular pain, sprains, backache, headache, sore throat, toothache and period pain. It can also be used to treat flu-like symptoms and reduce fever in adults. In low doses, it can be used to thin the blood.   

What are the dangers of taking aspirin? Some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, asthma, stomach ulcers, and liver and kidney disease, could make aspirin a bad choice for you.   

Taking aspirin with other medications? Aspirin can mix badly with other medicines, vitamins, herbals, or dietary supplements. People who are already using a prescribed medicine to thin the blood should talk to a health professional before using aspirin, even occasionally.   

Ibuprofen   

Adult dose of ibuprofen: 1200 - 1800 mg daily in three to four divided doses, preferably after food. Maximum daily dose 2400mg.  

What is ibuprofen? Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.   

When should you take ibuprofen? Ibuprofen can be used to relieve pain and inflammation caused by rheumatic and muscular pain, headaches, backache, and period pain. It can also be used to relieve cold and 'flu-like' symptoms.   

What are the dangers of taking ibuprofen? Ibuprofen may cause drowsiness and dizziness.   

Taking ibuprofen with other medications? Ibuprofen can interact with medications, including herbal and complementary preparations. Check with your pharmacist before taking it if you have blood clotting problems, peptic ulcers, kidney or heart problems.

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