Tests N-acetylcysteine with exercise training in adults with overweight or obesity

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for men and women aged 30 to 45 with overweight or obesity (BMI 25-35 kg/m2) who are otherwise free of chronic disease. It tests N-acetylcysteine supplements together with exercise training.

Age

30 to 45 years

Sex

Men and women

Disease stage

Overweight or obesity with a BMI of 25-35 kg/m2, without chronic non-communicable diseases.

Earlier treatment

People cannot be taking any drug therapy or dietary supplements.

Main reasons for not taking part

• Intolerance to NAC
• Bleeding disorders
• Kidney disease
• Asthma
• Use of blood thinners and/or angina medication

The registry criteria, word for word

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

• Are you between 30 and 45 years old?YesNo

What the trial wants to find out

Excess fat accumulation is a key feature of overweight and obesity that is mainly driven by nutrient overload and insufficient physical activity. White adipose tissue displays lipid overload and hypertrophy accompanied by macrophages infiltration, hypoxia, inflammation and excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An inflammatory response and ROS production are also evident in other metabolism regulating tissues and organs such as skeletal muscle, liver, pancreas and hypothalamus, contributing to a chronic inflammatory state, redox status disturbances and metabolic complications. There is overwhelming evidence showing that adults with overweight/obesity exhibit lower glutathione (GSH) levels in blood erythrocytes, skeletal muscle cells and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue cells. GSH, a tripeptide consisting of the amino acids glutamate, cysteine and glycine, is the most abundant thiol-containing antioxidant in the human body and has been, recently, characterized as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of numerous chronic diseases, due to its potent intracellular redox buffering capacity. Interestingly, lower GSH levels have been associated with diet-induced weight loss resistance, while enhancement of GSH levels through N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation reduces markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, hypertension, endothelia dysfunction and improves vitamin D metabolism. NAC is a thiol donor that elicits antioxidant effects by (i) directly scavenging ROS and (ii) providing reduced cysteine through deacetylation, which supports the biosynthesis of endogenous GSH via the activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthase. The aim of this study is to investigate whether NAC supplementation can enhance the exercise training-induced improvements on physical fitness and metabolic health in adult men and women with overweight/obesity.

The 2 groups in the trial

• N-acetylcysteineTreatment being tested

  Oral N-acetylcysteine supplementation for 12 weeks (2 x 600 mg capsules/day)

  Treatment: N Acetyl L Cysteine

• PlaceboPlacebo, for comparison

  Oral placebo supplementation for 12 weeks (2 placebo capsules/day)