London - Taking paracetamol before a workout can stop you overheating, a study indicates.
Researchers found the drug helps cyclists exercise for longer in hot conditions by reducing the impact of heart exertion.
It was already known that paracetamol swallowed before exercise can lift performance through a reduction in perceived pain.
The latest study shows the positive effect in hot conditions.
Researchers at the University of Kent said the drug appears to reduce the body’s temperature during exercise, which subsequently improves tolerance to stifling heat.
The study involved 11 young recreational exercisers, all male, who were given three exercise challenges. They consumed single doses of paracetamol, or a placebo, before cycling at a fixed intensity for as long as they could in temperatures of 18C and 30C.
During the exercise, measures of core and skin temperature were recorded, alongside the participants’ perception of the heat.
The results showed the drug allowed them to cycle significantly longer at 30C – by an average of four minutes.
Lex Mauger, who led the study at the university’s school of sport and exercise sciences, said the study raised questions for governing bodies in sport.
The study is reported in the journal Experimental Physiology. - Daily Mail