Adults taking weekly paracetamol are nearly three times more likely to have asthma than those taking it less often, according to a new European study.
The study, organised by GA2LEN (the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network), compared analgesic use in more than 500 adults with asthma with 500 controls.
The findings suggested frequent paracetamol use increased the risk of asthma symptoms.
Study author Dr Seif Shaheen from Imperial College London said paracetamol may reduce levels of glutathione in the lungs.
Glutathione is an antioxidant needed to defend the airways against damage from pollution and tobacco smoke.
“Considering asthma is a common disease and paracetamol use is frequent, it is now important to find out whether this association is really a causal one,” Dr Shaheen said.
“A clinical trial may be the only way to answer this question conclusively.”
He said epidemiological evidence was growing that showed a link between paracetamol and asthma.
Asthma prevalence is higher in children and adults in countries with higher paracetamol sales, he added.
European Respiratory Journal, 2008. Online doi:10.1183/09031936.00039208
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