title: An Additive Effect of Oral N-Acetyl Cysteine on Eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: Background. Helicobacter pylori is highly adapted to the gastric environment where it lives within or beneath the gastric mucous layer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of N-acetyl cysteine to the treatment regimen of H. pylori infection would affect eradication rates of the disease. Methods. A total of 79 H. pylori positive patients were randomized to two therapeutic groups. Both groups received a 14-day course of three-drug regimen including amoxicillin/clarithromycin/omeprazole. Experimental group (38 subjects) received NAC, and control group (41 subjects) received placebo, besides three-drug regimen. H. pylori eradication was evaluated by urea breath test at least 4 weeks after the cessation of therapy. Results. The rate of H. pylori eradication was 72.9% and 60.9% in experimental and control groups, respectively (P = 0.005). By logistic regression modeling, female gender (OR 3.68, 95% CI: 1.06-5.79; P = 0.040) and treatment including NAC (OR 1.88, 95% CI: 0.68-3.15; P = 0.021) were independent factors associated with H. pylori eradication. Conclusion. The results of the present study show that NAC has an additive effect on the eradication rates of H. pylori obtained with three-drug regimen and appears to be a promising means of eradicating H. pylori infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol 47176 41367, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad-Taghi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hamidian
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Najmeh-Sadat
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Aletaha
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taslimi
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montazeri