Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They AreFunctionsAnti-Prostaglandin DrugsCOX Inhibitor DrugsCOX-2 Inhibitor RisksAnti-Prostaglandin Diet
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What They Are
Functions
Anti-Prostaglandin Drugs
COX Inhibitor Drugs
COX-2 Inhibitor Risks
Anti-Prostaglandin Diet
Prostaglandins are hormones with numerous physiological functions in the body—including pain levels and inflammation. As part of the natural healing process, your body produces prostaglandins at the sites of infection or tissue damage.
Several drugs, especially the class of drugs called COX inhibitors, are formulated to counter the negative effects of prostaglandins. But these drugs can have negative side effects, leading many people to focus on more alternative methods. The anti-prostagladin diet, for example, focuses on consuming plenty of anti-inflammatory foods.
This article discusses the function of prostaglandins and how they affect the body. It also explains what drugs and other remedies are used to reduce the effect of prostaglandins in the body.
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What Prostaglandins Are
Prostaglandins are a type of hormone found in most tissues and organs. They act as signals to control processes in the parts of the body where they’re made. The body contains about two dozen different types that perform different functions.
Prostaglandins don’t last long—they carry out their function, and then the body breaks them down. That helps limit their activity, which is a good thing. When levels get too high, it can result in excess inflammation and pain.
What Is the Main Function of Prostaglandins?
Prostaglandins have numerous functions in the human body, some negative and some positive.
Some of their functions include:
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Medications That Target Prostaglandins
Because of prostaglandins' important function in initiating and perpetuating inflammation, numerous drugs have been developed over the years to counter their actions. Healthcare providers consider these drugs effective and they’re relatively inexpensive, as well.
In ancient times,willow barkwas used to relieve pain and reduce fever, and many holistic herbalists continue to recommend this plant to their feverish clients. During the 1820s, the active ingredient of willow bark was determined to be salicylic acid. However, when taken medicinally, it can cause intense stomach problems such as diarrhea and vomiting.
Eventually, acetylsalicylic acid was determined to be a safer option. During the 1890s, the Bayer company began marketingacetylsalicylicacid as aspirin.
Three COX enzymes have been discovered:
Well-known COX inhibitors on the market for pain and inflammation include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil). Both drugs block COX 1 and COX 2 enzymes. Known side effects of these medications are decreased kidney function,ulcers, and bleeding in the lining of the stomach. Advil also comes with the risk of heart attack and stroke.
With the exception of aspirin, all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) come with an FDA “black-box” warning that taking the medication raises the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Dangerous COX-2 Inhibitors
You may remember Vioxx and Bextra, the once-promising pain relievers that were pulled from the market in 2004. They only inhibited the COX 2 enzyme and were known as COX 2 inhibitors. They didn’t cause stomach-related side effects, but they did increase the risk of serious and even fatal heart attacks and stroke.
In September of 2004, Merck voluntarily pulled Vioxx off the market. In April 2005, the FDA ordered drugmaker Pfizer to pull Bextra off the market but allowed Celebrex (celecoxib) to remain available.
It is well known that inflammation is at the root of a number of modern-day diseases, including chronic pain. It’s also well known that taking medication to address the ills associated with inflammation may come with side effects, some of which can be quite serious.
To that end, many health providers, patients, and natural medicine activists advocate or follow ananti-inflammatory diet. Numerous studies have shown foods can have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Foods considered anti-inflammatory include:
Summary
Prostaglandins are a hormone with numerous key functions, including inflammation, fever, and blood clotting. If you experience chronic pain or inflammation, your healthcare provider may suggest a medication, such as COX inhibitors, that targets prostaglandins. These medications can have unwelcome side effects, though, prompting many people to lean into an anti-prostaglandin diet instead. The diet entails eating plenty of tomatoes, salmon, kale, almonds, and other foods that are scientifically proven to fight inflammation.
10 Sources
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Wautier JL, Wautier MP.Pro- and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and cytokines in humans: a mini review.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May;24(11):9647. doi:10.3390/ijms24119647Kushwaha V, Agrawal P, Vekaria H, Das A, Shoraisham B, Pathak B.Prostaglandins: An overview.Euro J Pharm Med Res. 2023 Dec;11(1):130-139.Society for Endocrinology 2016.You and Your Hormones: Prostaglandins.Mount Sinai.Willow bark.Desai S, Prickril B, Rasooly A.Mechanisms of phytonutrient modulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inflammation related to cancer.Nutr Cancer. 2018 Apr;70(3):350-375. doi:10.1080/01635581.2018.1446091Faki Y, Er A.Different chemical structures and physiological/pathological roles of cyclooxygenases.Rambam Maimonides Med J.2021 Jan;12(1):e0003. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10426Harvard Health Publishing.FDA strengthens warning that NSAIDs increase heart attack and stroke risk.Hospital for Special Surgery.Guidelines to help reduce the side effects of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).Food and Drug Adminstration.Vioxx.Harvard Health Publishing.Foods that fight inflammation.
Wautier JL, Wautier MP.Pro- and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and cytokines in humans: a mini review.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May;24(11):9647. doi:10.3390/ijms24119647
Kushwaha V, Agrawal P, Vekaria H, Das A, Shoraisham B, Pathak B.Prostaglandins: An overview.Euro J Pharm Med Res. 2023 Dec;11(1):130-139.
Society for Endocrinology 2016.You and Your Hormones: Prostaglandins.
Mount Sinai.Willow bark.
Desai S, Prickril B, Rasooly A.Mechanisms of phytonutrient modulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inflammation related to cancer.Nutr Cancer. 2018 Apr;70(3):350-375. doi:10.1080/01635581.2018.1446091
Faki Y, Er A.Different chemical structures and physiological/pathological roles of cyclooxygenases.Rambam Maimonides Med J.2021 Jan;12(1):e0003. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10426
Harvard Health Publishing.FDA strengthens warning that NSAIDs increase heart attack and stroke risk.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Guidelines to help reduce the side effects of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Food and Drug Adminstration.Vioxx.
Harvard Health Publishing.Foods that fight inflammation.
Harvard Women’s Health Watch 2017.Foods that fight inflammation.
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