Antibacterial Soaps Could Be Hurting Your Muscles [Study]

If you want to keep your muscles strong and healthy you might want to ditch antibacterial hand soaps. A three-part study is now suggesting that triclosan, a common chemical found in hand soaps can cause muscle function in humans and animals to slow.

Published on Monday the study focused on exposing human heart and skeletal muscle cells to triclosan levels typically experienced by antibacterial soap users on a daily basis. Scientists then used an electrical stimulus which forced the cells to contract. While the cells should have contracted immediately the triclosan interfered with the proteins that cause that muscle function.

According to Smithsonian Magazine the muscles inability to work properly marked a complete “failure.”

Scientists worry that people with heart conditions could suffer catastrophic effects because of lost muscle function.

The research found that the “grip strength” of mice fell by 18% after exposed to just a single dose of triclosan. Exposing minnows to the chemical for just one week caused them to swim more slowly.

Scientists warns that its not just handsoaps, triclosan is used in toothpaste, bedding and even cooking utensils.

One of the study’s co-authors noted that it “has become a ubiquitous ‘value added’ marketing factor that actually could be more harmful than helpful.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the meantime reminds consumers that regular soap and water have been shown to be just as effective as antibacterial soap.

Triclosan is now under direct review by researchers at the Food and Drug Administration.