International study points to new effect of ibuprofen: it can help millions of people

A group of scientists led by Professor Paul Breslin from Rutgers University (New Jersey, United States) has found that ibuprofen, in addition to alleviating pain and inflammation, interferes with sugar metabolism. This medication inhibits certain sweet receptors both in the mouth and in other cells of the body.

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“We discovered that ibuprofen and naproxen inhibit the activation of the sweet taste receptor both in humans and in human cells,” explained Breslin. These receptors are responsible for detecting sugar and are involved in glucose processing. When ibuprofen blocks these receptors, our body detects and processes sugar differently.

In the study, subjects who rinsed their mouths with ibuprofen reduced their ability to detect sweet flavors, which, if confirmed by further studies, could translate into a lower risk of developing certain diseases.

“Long-term ibuprofen use is associated with preserved metabolic function and a lower risk of metabolic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and colon cancer,” the study explains, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology. In other words, ibuprofen and naproxen could affect the metabolism of glucose in the body.

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However, this is just a preliminary, basic study that requires further similar analyses to determine if ibuprofen can be used to prevent diabetes. “Clinical trials in humans are needed to test this hypothesis,” the study concludes.