title: The comparison of antioxidant and hematological properties of N-acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid in physically active males.
abstract: The aim of this study was to follow up whether the modification of pro-antioxidant status by oral thiol administration such as N-acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid affects the hematological response. Twenty-eight healthy men participated in two independent experiments. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: controls (C(NAC) and C(ALA)), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). 1200 mg of N-acetylcysteine, 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid or placebo were administered for 8 days in two doses. NAC or ALA administration significantly elevated plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and reduced protein carbonylation (PC) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) by more than 30 %. The reduced glutathione (GSH) and hematological parameters changed only in response to NAC administration. NAC significantly elevated the level of GSH (+33%), EPO (+26%), Hb (+9%) and Hct (+9%) compared with C(NAC). The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) also increased by more than 12% after NAC. The numerous negative or positive correlations between the measures of TAS, PC, TBARS and hematological parameters were found, which suggest the NAC-induced interaction between pro-antioxidant and hematological values. Our study has shown that both N-acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid intake reveal an antioxidant action, but only N-acetylcysteine improves the haematological response.
authors.affiliation: University of Physical Education Poznan, Faculty of Physical Culture Gorzow Wlkp., Department of Biochemistry, Gorzow Wlkp., Poland. agzem@gorzow.home.pl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zembron-Lacny
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slowinska-Lisowska
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szygula
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Witkowski
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szyszka
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D004921:Erythropoietin; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine