Tier 3 — preclinical

N-acetyl-cysteine treatment improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Anna Maria Fulghesu, Mario Ciampelli, Giuseppe Muzj, Chiara Belosi, Luigi Selvaggi, Gian Franco Ayala, Antonio Lanzone
Fertil Steril 2002 77(6):1128-1135

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 12057717
DOI
10.1016/S0015-0282(02)03133-3
Funding
Funding disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full funding statement.
Competing interests
Competing-interest disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full declaration.

Study snapshot

DesignProspective clinical study with a small placebo subgroup
ModelHuman
Sample37 women with PCOS: 6 lean and 31 obese
InterventionOral NAC 1.8 g/day, with 3 g/day used in massively obese participants
Duration5-6 weeks
EndpointsHyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp; OGTT insulin; Testosterone; Free androgen index

What the study showed, in plain terms

Mechanistic PCOS study examining insulin sensitivity rather than fertility alone.

Key findings

NAC improved peripheral insulin sensitivity and reduced insulin exposure and androgen indices mainly in hyperinsulinemic participants.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Only six obese patients served as placebo controls; subgroup-driven response and nonuniform dosing limit certainty.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology