Anti-oxidant adjuvant therapy found to manage rheumatoid arthritis better

According to a recent publication of the journal, Current Rheumatology Reviews the inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress factors among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were significantly reduced using oral N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). As the oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in RA pathogenesis and their suppression can stop the development of the disease. NAC is a compound which comprises both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and therefore can be used for RA treatment. 

The patients obtained either Placebo or 600 mg NAC two times a day for 12 weeks. Measurement of Serum levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), C-reactive Protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Total Thiol Groups (TTG) was done at baseline and at the end of the analysis. 

The NAC group found with a significantly lower serum levels of NO, CRP, MDA, IL-6, ESR and TNF-α than the baseline. The TTG and TAC serum levels as antioxidant parameters also increased significantly. At the end of the study, both groups exhibited a difference only in MDA, TTG, and NO serum levels, oral NAC showed significant efficacy in minimizing inflammatory markers.