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Acetaminophen associated with the epidemic rise in
asthma. Asthma risk up 323% for those in
the top 25% versus bottom 25%.
Paracetamol is the name used in all countries but for US, Canada, Japan,
South Korea, Hong Kong and Iran. It
stands for acetyl-para-aminophenol abbreviated APAP, which is the way it is
listed on prescription pill bottles. The
Lancet, Volume 372, Issue 9643, Pages 1039 - 1048, 20 September 2008, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61445-2 http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2808%2961445-2/fulltext Association between paracetamol use in
infancy and childhood, and risk of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in
children aged 6—7 years: analysis from Phase Three of the ISAAC programme Exposure
to paracetamol during intrauterine life, childhood, and adult life may increase
the risk of developing asthma. We studied 6—7-year-old children from Phase
Three of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
programme to investigate the association between paracetamol consumption and
asthma. As
part of Phase Three of ISAAC, parents or guardians of children aged 6—7 years
completed written questionnaires about symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis,
and eczema, and several risk factors, including the use of paracetamol for
fever in the child's first year of life and the frequency of paracetamol use in
the past 12 months. The primary outcome variable was the odds ratio (OR) of
asthma symptoms in these children associated with the use of paracetamol for
fever in the first year of life, as calculated by logistic regression. 205,487 children aged
6—7 years from 73 centres in 31 countries were included in the analysis. In the
multivariate analyses, use of paracetamol for fever in the first year of life
was associated with an increased risk of asthma symptoms when aged 6—7 years
(OR 1·46 [95% CI 1·36—1·56]). Current
use of paracetamol was associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of
asthma symptoms (1·61 [1·46—1·77] and 3·23
[2·91—3·60] for medium and high use vs no use, respectively).
Use of paracetamol was similarly associated with the risk of severe asthma
symptoms, with population-attributable risks between 22% and 38%. Paracetamol
use, both in the first year of life and in children aged 6—7 years, was also
associated with an increased risk of symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis and
eczema. Use
of paracetamol in the first year of life and in later childhood, is associated
with risk of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema at age 6 to 7 years. We
suggest that exposure to paracetamol might be a risk factor for the development
of asthma in childhood. {Other studies
show that prenatal usage is also associated with asthma.} The
BUPA Foundation, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Asthma and
Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand, the Hawke's Bay Medical Research
Foundation, the Waikato Medical Research Foundation, Glaxo Wellcome New
Zealand, the New Zealand Lottery Board, Astra Zeneca New Zealand, and Glaxo
Wellcome International Medical Affairs. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |
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Similar to the top study, also from New Zealand. Increases asthma risk 251% for the
medium
and high usage groups combined versus the no use group. (The next article in the same journal as
above.} American Journal
of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Jan 15, 2011 Vol 183 No 2 1, 171-178 http://171.66.122.149/content/183/2/171.abstract Rationale: There is epidemiological evidence that the use of
acetaminophen may increase the risk of developing asthma. Objectives: To investigate the risk of asthma and other allergic disorders
associated with the current use of acetaminophen in 13- to 14-year-old children
in different populations worldwide. Methods: As part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in
Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three, 13- to 14-year-old children completed written
and video questionnaires obtaining data on current symptoms of asthma,
rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema, and a written environmental questionnaire
obtaining data on putative risk factors, including acetaminophen use in the
past 12 months. Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome measure was the odds ratio (OR) of current
asthma symptoms associated with acetaminophen use calculated by logistic
regression. A total of 322,959 adolescent children from 113
centers in 50 countries participated. In the multivariate analyses the recent
use of acetaminophen was associated with an exposure-dependent increased risk
of current asthma symptoms (OR, 1.43 [95% confidence interval, 1.33–1.53] and 2.51 [95% confidence interval, 2.33–2.70] for medium and high versus no use, respectively). Acetaminophen use was also associated with an
exposure-dependent increased risk of current symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis
and eczema. Conclusions: Acetaminophen use may represent an important risk factor for
the development and/or maintenance of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema
in adolescent children. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It's not at all clear
exactly how acetaminophen might trigger asthma and other allergies.
One theory is that the drug affects lung levels of glutathione, an antioxidant
important in protecting the lung from damage by free radicals formed by oxygen. http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=118919 |