Effect Of Acute Acetaminophen Injestion On Running Endurance Performance

The Effect of Acetaminophen on Running Economy and Performance in Collegiate Distance Runners

“…ACT inhibits prostaglandin (PG) synthesis from arachidonic acid in human skeletal muscle; as a result, PGs regulate adaptations to muscular exercise [ 26 ]. An analgesic drug, such as ACT, can alter the acute and chronic responses to exercise by elevating the pain threshold and requiring a greater amount of pain before it is felt [ 3 ]. As exercise-induced pain is a contributor to volitional exhaustion or changes in pacing during exercise [ 2 ], a reduction in perceived pain should increase the athlete’s performance [ 2 , 3 ].…”

“…Acetaminophen (ACT), also known as paracetamol, is an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. ACT can alter acute and chronic responses to exercise by increasing pain threshold and demanding a greater amount of a stimulus before pain is felt [ 3 ].…”

“…The amount of 7.5 g in adults is widely considered as the lowest acute dose capable of causing toxicity [ 6 ]. All studies examining ACT and its effect on performance utilize doses ranging from 0.5 g to 1.5 g [ 3 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], well under the threshold for the potential of toxicity. There have been no reports of acute toxicity in healthy adults ingesting a single dose of ACT below 125 mg/kg [ 6 ].…”

“…Despite the many studies completed on cycling performance and ACT, there have been few studies conducted to examine the effects of ACT ingestion on running performance. In the only study examining running endurance performance and ACT ingestion, Dagli et al [ 3 ] found that after taking ACT, recreationally active runners were able to improve 3 km time trial performance by 1.9% compared to placebo [ 3 ]. However, this study was conducted using exclusively male participants and was performed on a treadmill, which is not as specific to distance running compared to the running over ground that is characteristic of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) track and cross-country runners.…”

“…Based on the evidence to date in a multitude of studies, ACT has been demonstrated to improve cycling performance [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Yet, the only study examining the effects of ACT ingestion on endurance running performance used recreationally active runners and did not examine its effect on RE [ 3 ]. Therefore, the purpose of this randomized, double blind, crossover experiment was to determine the effects of ACT on RE and a 3 km time trial performance in well-trained NCAA collegiate distance runners.…”