Paracetamol overdose carries a serious risk of liver failure...

S Venkateshwari
Paracetamol overdose carries a serious risk of liver failure...


A recent study from the university of Edinburgh found that the common painkiller paracetamol can cause liver damage. Studies on mice have yielded new insights into the liver damage caused by the popular painkiller. The results shed light on overdosage toxicity, which can occasionally be fatal and is challenging to treat.

Organ failure - The discovery may direct future research into remedies to lessen the harmful effects of the medication, which is the main cause of acute liver failure in the Western world. The university of Edinburgh conducted research on the effects of paracetamol on liver cells in mice and human tissue. Their research revealed that paracetamol can harm the liver in some situations by interfering with the structural connections necessary for the healthy operation of nearby liver cells.

Broken tight junctions harm the structure of liver tissue, reducing cell function and perhaps leading to cell death. Tight junctions are connections between cells in the cell wall. This kind of cell death has been connected to cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and other liver illnesses, but it hasn't been connected to paracetamol toxicity before.

Additional tests

The current goal of the research is to create a trustworthy technique for employing human liver cells in place of animal testing. Subsequently, they will examine the effects of varying paracetamol dosages and timings on liver toxicity and pinpoint possible therapeutic targets. The study, which included researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Oslo as well as the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, was published in Scientific Reports. The Chief Scientist office and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council provided some funds for it.



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