Effects of N-acetylcysteine supplementation on disease activity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory and metabolic parameters in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Esalatmanesh K, Jamali A, Esalatmanesh R, Soleimani Z
Published in Amino Acids
Methodology
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial; N-acetylcysteine 600 mg twice daily or placebo for 3 months in rheumatoid arthritis patients; DAS-28, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, nitric oxide and hs-CRP measured
Key Findings
NAC significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity (P = 0.015) and reduced malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and hs-CRP versus baseline, alongside improved disease activity scores.
Conclusions
NAC supplementation supports glutathione-dependent antioxidant capacity and lowers oxidative stress markers in an inflammatory disease population.
Limitations
Single-centre, disease-specific population, 3-month duration, some comparisons within-group rather than between-group.
Supplements Studied
NAC significantly ... increased GPx activity (P = 0.015) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level
Outcomes Measured
NAC significantly reduced morning stiffness (P < 0.001), DAS-28 (P < 0.001), ESR (P = 0.004), MDA (P < 0.001), NO (P < 0.001), hs-CRP (P = 0.006) ... and significantly increased GPx activity (P = 0.015)
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
University research funding
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