Should I take NAC for PCOS?
If you have PCOS then you may be overwhelmed with the choice of supplements out there which claim to help manage your symptoms.
PCOS is a common endocrine disorder with reproductive and metabolic consequences which impacts 1 in 10 people with ovaries in the UK (1). Symptoms of PCOS include acne, oily skin, hair loss, excessive hair growth, irregular periods, infertility and weight gain (2).
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) & PCOS
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant and amino acid that is an insulin sensitizer, which may be beneficial for insulin resistance commonly seen in people with PCOS.
A review of the literature found NAC has been seen in some studies to inhibit oxidative stress, protect insulin receptors, influence insulin receptor activity and insulin secretion from pancreatic cells. This means it may help with insulin resistance for people with PCOS and, in turn, lower inflammation, improve fertility and reduce androgen levels. Although not all of the studies found a significant improvement in outcomes (3).
A meta-analysis of eight randomised control trials on the impact of NAC on PCOS outcomes found that those given NAC had higher odds of having a live birth, getting pregnant, and ovulation as compared to placebo. However, women with NAC were less likely to have pregnancy or ovulation as compared to metformin. It is important to note that the study highlighted the limitations of the studies as there was a high risk of selection, performance, and attrition bias in two studies and a high risk of reporting bias in four studies (4).
You should not take NAC if you’ve had a previous reaction to it if you’ve had liver disease or a stomach/duodenal ulcer and it may cause side effects like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting plus dizziness (5). There is limited evidence to support the use of NAC but if you are considering using it then ensure you discuss it with your doctor or dietitian before taking it.
NAC supplements are just one of the supplements that you may want to include in your diet. You can read more about some of the other common supplements in PCOS on the blog.
If you would like more personalised advice about optimal nutrition to help in managing your PCOS symptoms, get in touch to book a FREE discovery call to find out more about my 1:1 consultations.
References:
BDA, 2019. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and diet: Food Fact Sheet. Available from: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-diet.html.
NHS, 2019. Symptoms Polycystic ovary syndrome[online]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/symptoms/
Saha, L., Kaur, S., Kumar-Saha, P. (2013) N-acetyl cysteine in clomiphene citrate resistant polycystic ovary syndrome: a review of reported outcomes, J. Pharmacological Pharmacotherapy, Jul-Sep 4 (3); 187-191. Available online at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746301/
Thakker, Raval, Patel, Walia. (2015) "N-Acetylcysteine for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials", Obstetrics and Gynecology International, vol. 2015, Article ID 817849, 13 pages, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/817849
NHS, 2010. N-Acetylcysteine: Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals. Available from: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Patient-Information-Leaflet-Acetylcysteine.pdf
