Paracetamol 'protects against artery disease'

Paracetamol is a widely-used drug

Evidence is strengthening that the popular painkiller paracetamol can protect against the hardening of the arteries.

Paracetamol inhibits the key body chemical which contributes to the disease.

Dr Phillip Greenspan, from the University of Georgia in the US, said the enzyme myeloperoxidase helps so-called "bad" cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein (LDL), damage the walls of arteries.

He said: "We found that paracetamol blocks the activity of myeloperoxidase, thus inhibiting the transformation of LDLs into particles that contribute to hardening of the arteries."

The results were presented at a conference on arterial disease in Denver.

Dr Greenspan's work comes after a succession of studies in both humans and animals which suggest that certain doses of paracetamol could inhibit LDL.

Dr Greenspan said: "Our findings, together with others, are extremely encouraging.

Cheap weapon

"Although further research is required, we are seeing mounting evidence to suggest that paracetamol may block a critical pathway in the development of coronary heart disease."

If paracetamol is confirmed as a way of stopping or slowing down the hardening of arteries associated with heart disease, then it would be another cheap pharmaceutical weapon against the condition.

Heart disease is still the biggest killer in the UK, with diet and obesity a key contributory factor.

Aspirin - another cheap and readily available drug - has already been identified as a key treatment and prevention for stroke.

Paracetamol is not as freely available in the UK as in the past, following concerns about potential overdoses.

Now, only a limited number of pills can be bought at any one time.