{"title":"The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in improving liver function: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials","authors":"Mahlagha Nikbaf-Shandiz , Shaghayegh Adeli , Amir Hossein Faghfouri , Fateme Khademi , Parsa Jamilian , Meysam Zarezadeh , Mehrangiz Ebrahimi-Mamaghani","doi":"10.1016/j.phanu.2023.100343","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could improve liver function through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. We conducted a systematic review<span> and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to examine whether NAC administration could lead to changes in liver function.</span></p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The search was done using appropriate keywords in PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Embase databases and Google Scholar up to July 2022. Random-effects model was employed to obtain the pooled estimate. Additional analyses including subgroup and sensitivity analyses were carried out.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p><span><span>Eight eligible studies were identified. The results indicated no significant effect of NAC on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), </span>alkaline phosphatase (ALP), [(SMD= −0.03 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.53, 0.47; P = 0.917, I</span><sup>2</sup> = 71.3%, P = 0.004), (SMD= −0.22 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.63, 0.19; P = 0.288, I<sup>2</sup> = 56.9%, P = 0.040), (SMD= −0.22 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.67, 0.23; P = 0.343, I<sup>2</sup><span> = 52.6%, P = 0.097), respectively], however, it significantly increased albumin (ALB) and decreased bilirubin levels [(SMD= 1.05 pg/ml; 95% CI: 0.41, 1.69; P < 0.001, I</span><sup>2</sup> = 87.3%, P < 0.001) and (SMD= −0.34 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.53, −0.14; P < 0.001, I<sup>2</sup> = 0.0%, P = 0.447) respectively].</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Although NAC might have favorable effect on ALB and bilirubin levels, larger trials assessing liver function as primary outcome are required.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":20049,"journal":{"name":"PharmaNutrition","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100343"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"PharmaNutrition","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213434423000154","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"NUTRITION & DIETETICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could improve liver function through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to examine whether NAC administration could lead to changes in liver function.
Methods
The search was done using appropriate keywords in PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Embase databases and Google Scholar up to July 2022. Random-effects model was employed to obtain the pooled estimate. Additional analyses including subgroup and sensitivity analyses were carried out.
Results
Eight eligible studies were identified. The results indicated no significant effect of NAC on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), [(SMD= −0.03 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.53, 0.47; P = 0.917, I2 = 71.3%, P = 0.004), (SMD= −0.22 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.63, 0.19; P = 0.288, I2 = 56.9%, P = 0.040), (SMD= −0.22 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.67, 0.23; P = 0.343, I2 = 52.6%, P = 0.097), respectively], however, it significantly increased albumin (ALB) and decreased bilirubin levels [(SMD= 1.05 pg/ml; 95% CI: 0.41, 1.69; P < 0.001, I2 = 87.3%, P < 0.001) and (SMD= −0.34 pg/ml; 95% CI: −0.53, −0.14; P < 0.001, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.447) respectively].
Conclusion
Although NAC might have favorable effect on ALB and bilirubin levels, larger trials assessing liver function as primary outcome are required.