New research from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, links acetaminophen, the medicine in pain relievers such as Tylenol, to improved heart muscle recovery following ischemic attacks - periods of reduced blood flow typical of coronary artery disease.

Laboratory findings reported by Professor Gary F. Merrill, Rutgers' department of cell biology and neuroscience, indicate a significant improvement in acetaminophen-treated hearts compared with non-treated hearts following periods of induced ischemia.

"Our goal over the past few years has been to examine the potential protective effect of acetaminophen on the function of the heart muscle and coronary circulation," said Merrill. "We now have results from several published studies that suggest acetaminophen exerts an antioxidant effect on heart muscle cells, blocking the damage caused by chemicals known as oxidants." Merrill attributed the rapid post-ischemia recovery of heart muscle function and circulation observed to the antioxidant properties of acetaminophen.

Ischemic heart disease is a widely recognized precursor to heart attack. Episodes of ischemia, which are generally accompanied by the painful condition called angina pectoris, are the result of reduced blood flow through the coronary arteries that supply vital oxygen to the heart muscle. As coronary arteries become progressively narrowed due to fatty deposits on the inside of their walls, their ability to sustain adequate blood flow diminishes.

Merrill described his research as part of a growing body of evidence supporting the positive effects of acetaminophen on the cardiovascular system. His findings, together with those of Dr. Addison Taylor of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and Professor Phillip Greenspan of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, indicate that acetaminophen may play a role in preventing some of the damaging effects of cardiovascular disease. Taylor and Greenspan separately conducted investigations showing acetaminophen may help protect against the life-threatening condition, hardening of the arteries.