Evaluation of the Effects of Oral N-Acetylcysteine and a Placebo in Paraclinical and Oxidative Stress Parameters of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Background and Aims: The treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a challenging problem today, and previous study has shown that oxidative stress causes the collective pathophysiological conditions of many hepatopathies, so other new therapeutic approaches are needed. Hence, in this study the paraclinical and oxidative stress parameters of the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as an antioxidant in the treatment of CHB have been evaluated.

Methods: In this double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial study, 43 patients with CHB were enrolled in 2008 in Tehran, Iran. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1200 mg/day NAC or a placebo for 45 days. Paraclinical tests and oxidative stress parameters were measured on experimental day 0 and on day 45.

Results: Liver function tests, i.e. alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were not significantly different in the NAC group and in the placebo group. A reduction in catalase (CAT) activity and an increase in glutathione concentration were statistically significant in the NAC group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: According to our results, oral NAC is not an effective adjuvant treatment for patients with CHB, but further research with a larger population is needed for the evaluation of the effectiveness of NAC in these patients.