Effects of N-acetylcysteine on aging cell and obesity complications in obese adults: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Mohammad Hassan Sohouli; Ghazaleh Eslamian; Nasser Malekpour Alamdari; Maryam Abbasi; Sepideh Fazeli Taherian; Diba Behtaj; Hamid Zand

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1237869

Effects of N-acetylcysteine on aging cell and obesity complications in obese adults: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Front Nutr. 2023 Sep 19:10:1237869. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1237869. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Mohammad Hassan Sohouli¹, Ghazaleh Eslamian², Nasser Malekpour Alamdari³, Maryam Abbasi³, Sepideh Fazeli Taherian¹, Diba Behtaj¹, Hamid Zand²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Modarres Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background: We decided to conduct this study with the aim of investigating the effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on obesity complications and senescence of visceral adipose tissue in obese adults.

Methods and analysis: The present study was conducted as a randomized clinical trial (RCT) (Clinical trial registry number: IRCT20220727055563N1) on 40 obese adults candidates for bariatric surgery, who were randomly assigned to receive 600 mg of NAC (n = 20) or placebo as a control (n = 20) for 4 weeks. During bariatric surgery, visceral adipose tissue was used to examine gene expression and senescence cells using SA-β-gal.

Results: Our findings showed that intervention with NAC significantly reduces SA-β-gal activity (as a marker of senescence) and expression of p16 and interleukin 6 (IL-6) genes in the visceral adipose tissue compared to placebo in obese adults for 4 weeks. In addition, our findings showed the potential and beneficial effect of NAC administration on reducing the levels of inflammatory factors including IL-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), as well as the level of fasting blood sugar (FBS), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and insulin compared to placebo after adjusting for confounders. No significant effect was indicated on anthropometric factors and lipid profile.

Conclusion: Findings showed that NAC, in addition to having a potential beneficial effect on reducing some of the complications caused by obesity, seems to have synolytic/senomorphic potential as well.

Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [IRCT20220727055563N1].

Keywords: N-acetylcysteine; adipose tissue; insulin resistance; obesity; senescence.