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N-acetylcysteine for polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

Divyesh Thakker, Amit Raval, Isha Patel, Rama Walia
Obstet Gynecol Int 2015 2015:817849

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 25653680
PubMed Central
PMC4306416
DOI
10.1155/2015/817849
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

DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
ModelHuman
Sample8 RCTs; approximately 910 women
InterventionNAC versus placebo or active comparators in PCOS
DurationVaried
EndpointsOvulation; Pregnancy; Live birth; Hormonal and metabolic outcomes

What the study showed, in plain terms

Earlier randomized-trial meta-analysis focused on fertility and reproductive outcomes in PCOS.

Key findings

NAC showed favorable pooled signals versus placebo for ovulation, pregnancy and live birth, but was not consistently superior to metformin.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small and heterogeneous trials with risk-of-bias concerns; estimates are less definitive than headline fertility claims suggest.

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