The effects of N-acetylcysteine administration on metabolic status and serum adiponectin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the impact of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration on metabolic parameters and serum adiponectin levels in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: This randomized clinical trial included 76 people with MetS, aged 25–75 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 1800 mg/day NAC (n = 38) or matched placebo (n = 38) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at the onset and at the end of 12-week intervention to quantify metabolic parameters. Results: NAC significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (P = 0.02), fasting serum insulin (P = 0.006), insulin resistance index (P = 0.005), and serum C-reactive protein (P = 0.003), and increased serum HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.001) and plasma total glutathione (P < 0.001) versus the placebo group. NAC administration did not alter adiponectin, blood pressure, other lipid indices, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: Overall, 1800 mg/day NAC consumption for 12 weeks in MetS subjects had positive impacts on the parameters of glycemic homeostasis, HDL-cholesterol, inflammatory status, and body antioxidative defense system. NAC prescription may be a new strategy for the amelioration of metabolic parameters in individuals with MetS.Clinical Trial Registration: This clinical trial was prospectively registered in the Iranian website for registration of clinical trials (https://www.irct.ir/trial/44284).

Keywords

• N-acetylcysteine
• Metabolic status
• Metabolic syndrome
• Oxidative stress
• Inflammation