title: N-Acetylcysteine supplementation reduces oxidative stress and DNA damage in children with β-thalassemia.
abstract: There are several reports that increased oxidative stress and DNA damage were found in β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and vitamin E on total oxidative stress and DNA damage in children with β-TM. Seventy-five children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (β-thal) were randomly chosen to receive 10 mg/kg/day of NAC or 10 IU/kg/day of vitamin E or no supplementation; 28 healthy controls were also included in the study. Serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured, oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated, and mononuclear DNA damage was assessed by alkaline comet assay; they were determined before treatment and after 3 months of treatment. Total oxydent status, OSI, and DNA damage levels were significantly higher and TAC levels were significantly lower in the thalassemic children than in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). In both supplemented groups, mean TOS and OSI levels were decreased; TAC and pre transfusion hemoglobin (Hb) levels were significantly increased after 3 months (p ≤ 0.002). In the NAC group, DNA damage score decreased (p = 0.001). N-Acetylcysteine and vitamin E may be effective in reducing serum oxidative stress and increase pre transfusion Hb levels in children with β-thal. N-Acetylcysteine also can reduce DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hematology Department, Harran University, Medical Faculty , Sanlıurfa , Turkey .
authors.forename: Zeynep Canan
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aycicek
authors.forename: Abdurrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocyigit
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014421:Turkey; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: DNA damage; N-acetylcysteine (NAC); child; oxidative stress; vitamin E; β-Thalassemia (β-thal)