A pilot study of oxidative pathways in MS fatigue: randomized trial of N-acetyl cysteine.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess feasibility, tolerability, and safety of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for fatigue in progressive MS. Secondary objectives evaluated changes in fatigue and oxidative pathway biomarkers on NAC versus placebo.

Methods

Individuals with progressive MS with Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) > t38 were randomized 2:1 to NAC 1250mg TID or placebo for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was tolerability and safety. The secondary outcome to evaluate efficacy was MFIS change from baseline to week 4 between groups. Exploratory biomarker outcomes included change in blood GSH/GSSG ratio (reduced-to-oxidized glutathione (GSH)) and in vivo relative GSH using 7T MR spectroscopy (MRS) between groups. Fisher exact test was used for categorical and rank sum for continuous outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Krysko KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8045913 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature