Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly used medicines in the world. Many of us reach for it when we have a headache, muscle pain, or a fever. It’s easy to find, doesn’t require a prescription, and seems pretty harmless.
But a new study from the University of California, Davis, suggests that we might need to think more carefully about how this everyday drug affects our bodies—especially since it may work differently in men and women.
In the study, scientists gave mice a dose of ibuprofen similar to what people usually take for mild pain—around 400 mg a day. The experiment ran for one week. After that, the researchers looked closely at the liver cells of the mice to see what had changed. What they found was surprising.
Ibuprofen caused changes in at least 34 different processes inside the liver cells of male mice. These processes are part of the body’s natural systems that turn food into energy, balance hormones, and get rid of waste.
One of the side effects of these changes was an increase in hydrogen peroxide—a chemical that can damage cells when there’s too much of it. In simple terms, the medicine was making the liver work in a different, and potentially harmful, way.
The effects weren’t the same in male and female mice. For example, the liver’s ability to clear out waste products—including other medicines—was affected more in the males.
This could mean that in men, ibuprofen might slow down how fast the body gets rid of other drugs. That’s important because it could lead to medicines staying in the body longer than they should, possibly causing side effects or making the drugs less safe.
This research, led by Professor Aldrin Gomes, shows that ibuprofen may not be as harmless as we think, especially if it’s taken often or without a real need.
It also highlights something that scientists are paying more attention to: the way men and women can react differently to the same medication. Most medicines are tested on people without always looking at sex differences, but this study suggests that may need to change.
So, what does this mean for the rest of us? It doesn’t mean you should throw away your ibuprofen. But it does mean you might want to think twice before taking it for every small ache or pain. If you find yourself using it regularly, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor—especially if you’re taking other medications or have liver concerns.
This study is another reminder that even common, over-the-counter drugs can have unexpected effects. As scientists learn more about how these medicines work in different people, doctors may start giving more personalized advice—taking into account your sex, your health history, and what other drugs you’re using.
For now, the safest approach is to use ibuprofen only when you really need it, and not to assume that what works for one person works the same way for everyone. After all, our bodies are more complex than we think—and so are the medicines we put into them.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and eating yogurt linked to lower frailty in older people.
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