NSAIDS Increase Risk of Heart Disease, But Not All; Vit C Prevents Cell Death

Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen have been found to increase the risk of heart disease based on a previous study. However, researchers from the University of California, have revealed other reasons why these drugs are harmful to the heart tissue.

Through an extensive study of heart cells from mice and rats, the team of researchers has discovered several effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as:

• They attack mitochondria or the decrease in the ability of the cardiac cell to produce energy;
• Thee affect the production of reactive oxygen species that stresses the heart cells, which is related to several diseases like the heart disease;
• They impair the cardiac cell's proteasome, which is the mechanism for degrading the harmful proteins. This results in toxic buildup, which can later cause the death of the cardiac cells, Health Harvard reported.

According to Aldrin Gomes, an associate professor of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior at the UC Davis, they are aware that these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had side effects and that it increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. But with the research findings, the mechanisms behind this have been determined, according to the professor.

Comparing naproxen, which is known to be the safest NSAID available, with other stronger anti-inflammatory drug like meclofenamate sodium, the scientists have discovered that:

• The meclofenamate sodium was more likely to have a negative effect on the heart than naproxen;
• Naproxen had neither an effect to the proteasome function nor did it cause the heart cells to die. However, it caused the impairment of mitochondrial function and the increase in reactive oxygen species being produced in the cardiac cells. Moreover, it is also related to a higher chance of stroke.
• Meclofenamate sodium increased the reactive oxygen species, decreased the function of the proteasome, increased the likelihood of cardiac cell death and impairment of the mitochondrial function.

The study, which was published recently in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular radiology, further suggests that taking antioxidant such as vitamin C can avoid cardiac cell death without affecting the ability of the drug to provide pain relief, News-Medical reported.