Antioxidant related parameters in patients treated for cancer chemoprevention with N-acetylcysteine.

J. de Jong, N. de Vries, A. Bast, G.B. Snow, B.J.M. Braakhuis, V. Bongers, I. Steen

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant, possibly effective in the early steps of carcinogenesis, and is applied to prevent second primary tumours in the upper aerodigestive tract and the lungs. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacodynamic profile of 600 mg NAC treatment, given daily for 3 months. Treatment caused a significant increase of the non-protein-SH concentration in blood plasma (38%) and erythrocytes (31%). Glutathione levels in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells appeared not to be influenced by treatment. The total radical-trapping ability parameter (TRAP) of blood plasma showed no change. In vitro, the addition of glutathione, but not of NAC did increase the TRAP value. In addition, when peroxyl radicals were generated in vitro, NAC was shown to be consumed more rapidly than glutathione. This suggests that NAC prevents early damage, while glutathione functions over a longer time period. © 1995.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)921-923
Number of pages2
JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer
Volume31A
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1995

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