Effect of month-long treatment with oral N-acetylcysteine on the oxidative stress and proteinuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study examined if use of N-acetylcysteine for a month in moderate doses would reduce the oxidative stress in patients with DN and reduce the proteinuria.


METHODS
Fifteen volunteers with DN participated in the study. Participants took capsule form of N-acetylcysteine 1 gm twice a day for a month. Spot urines were collected and tested for protein/creatinine on days 1 and 30. Sera were collected on days 1, 15, 30, and 60 and tested for several oxidative stress biomarkers.


RESULTS
There was no significant change in proteinuria or any of the oxidant stress markers at any point: protein-creatinine ratio (day 1, 1.6 +/- 1.8; day 30, 1.3 +/- 1.3), 8-isoprostane (day 1, 5.9 +/- 4.2 pg/mL; day 15, 4.67 +/- 2.4 pg/mL; day 30, 5.1 +/- 2.8 pg/mL; and day 60, 4.7 +/- 1.9 pg/mL), total antioxidant status (day 1, 1.5 +/- 0.1 mM; day 15, 1.6 +/- 0.2 mM; day 30, 1.5 +/- 0.1 mM; and day 60, 1.5 +/- 0.2 mM), aconitase (day 1, 7.9 +/- 5.9 mU/mL; day 15, 10.1 +/- 5.9 mU/mL; day 30, 8.9 +/- 6.2 mU/mL; and day 60, 7.8 +/- 5.5 mU/mL), glutathione peroxidase (day 1, 261.4 +/- 56.4 mU/mL; day 15, 263.9 +/- 57.2 mU/mL; day 30, 269.2 +/- 66.0 mU/mL; and day 60, 257.5 +/- 48.2 mU/mL), and superoxide dismutase (day 1, 242.6 +/- 79.3 mU/mL; day 15, 252.1 +/- 68.1 mU/mL; day 30, 262.0 +/- 73.3 mU/mL; and day 60, 255.7 +/- 61.5).However, 4 patients with initial high isoprostane levels showed nonsignificant decline at each subsequent time point.


CONCLUSIONS
N-acetylcysteine in moderate doses given over a month did not have significant effect on the overall oxidative stress in patients with DN and did not reduce proteinuria.
Saklayen
Mohammad G
MG
V.A. Medical Center, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA. mohammed.saklayen@va.gov
Yap
Jayson
J
Vallyathan
Val
V
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D003404:Creatinine; D000111:Acetylcysteine