Tier 2 — strong

N acetylcysteine in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Kirsten C Morley, Siena Peruch, Claire Adams, Ellen Towers, Chris Tremonti, Joshua Watt, Nazila Jamshidi, Paul S Haber
Alcohol Alcohol 2023 58(5):553-560

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 37465907
DOI
10.1093/alcalc/agad044
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

DesignRandomized double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial
ModelHuman
Sample42 participants with alcohol use disorder
InterventionNAC 2,400 mg/day versus placebo
Duration28 days
EndpointsHeavy drinking days; Drinks per drinking day; Abstinence; Craving; Liver tests; Psychological outcomes

What the study showed, in plain terms

2023 evidence record examining NAC in alcohol use disorder.

Key findings

NAC did not significantly reduce heavy drinking days, abstinence outcomes or craving versus placebo; the trial mainly established feasibility and tolerability.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small short proof-of-concept trial with high psychiatric comorbidity and substantial alcohol-related liver disease.

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