Posted on 04/01/2025 2:48:21 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Past studies have shown that the human sweet taste receptor conveys sweet perception in the mouth and may help regulate glucose metabolism throughout the body. At the same time, the anti-inflammatory medications ibuprofen and naproxen are structurally similar to inhibitors of the sweet taste receptor and have been associated with metabolic benefits.
Researchers have published a study that indicates these drugs could be another way to reduce the risk of metabolic diseases.
In the team's cellular studies, ibuprofen reduced molecular signaling of sucrose and sucralose in human kidney cells made to express the sweet taste receptor. In addition, to mirror internal human physiology in the mouth, low concentrations of ibuprofen, about the same as human plasma levels after a typical dose taken at home, inhibited sweet taste and oral detection of glucose at concentrations about the same as post-meal blood sugar levels.
Long-term ibuprofen use has been associated with preserved metabolic function and reduced risk of metabolic diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and colon cancer. In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, the team found that ibuprofen and naproxen also inhibit an important blood glucose receptor. In the team's human experiments, for example, when a participant rinses their mouth with ibuprofen, the perception of sweetness from a variety of sugars and sweeteners is reduced.
Evidence from other studies has also shown that ibuprofen and chronic disease risk reduction are intertwined. The most obvious situation, notes Breslin, is Type 2 diabetes—if you have increased blood sugar and take a lot of ibuprofen, your blood sugar decreases. The second is a decreased risk of diseases that involve glucose metabolism in specific tissues, like Alzheimer's and some cancers.
"Our study connects the two functions of TAS1R receptors as the gatekeepers of sugar intake and a downstream modulator of glucose metabolism," said Breslin.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
JUNK
one of my best friends [all the way back to jr high school] wrecked his stomach with years of daily use of naproxen [he also wrecked his liver by drinking quarts of soda pop every day for decades]
Probably made a significant contribution. The ultimate cause is still unclear by all the docs. I had other medical issues even though I was a healthy eater and runner.
For several years, I self-treated with Advil, often consuming two or three doses (two pills) several times a week. Looking back, I firmly believe that made a big contribution.
While no longer on dialysis after three years (almost unheard of), I have low kidney function, and I am keenly aware of the negative effect of NSAIDs -- and so are my docs. I don't get near them. If I need a pain killer, which is very infrequent, it is Tylenol.
Perhaps the biggest "tell" was a slow but progressive increase in my blood creatinine. It never moved seriously over the maximum threshold, but over time, it was definitely increasing, which, at the time, was unnoticed in my annual physicals.
The bottom line is that all the medical literature clearly identifies NSAIDs as a potential enemy of kidneys. Posts like these are clearly misleading. There was no mention of this damage, which is very well known.
Thanks much for the detailed information, and congratulations on getting off dialysis! I know (second hand) how miserable it is - my wife was on it for several years until our wonderful daughter donated a kidney.
What - if anything - did you do to get off dialysis?
I'm very happy for your wife and for you! While dialysis will keep you alive, it is a very unpleasant thing to deal with -- unpleasant is a mild word.
I made several lifestyle changes from my own research and saw my kidney function improve. I saw it but had great difficulty convincing my doctors to let me off.
I actually wrote a story about my journey with kidney failure and cancer, where they both were diagnosed within days of one another. You can click on the link below if you are interested. It's a long read but you can click on THE PLAN - HOW I CAME OFF OF DIALYSIS 9 to jump straight to that section.
I love sharing the story in hopes it may help others. While it will not work for everyone, it sure did for me without a transplant.
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