Efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine in dyspeptic patients with negative Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NAC in dyspepsia symptoms in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) negative dyspeptic patients. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 85 patients with functional dyspepsia without H. pylori infection underwent treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) pantoprazole 40mg daily (n=41) with or without NAC 600mg twice a day (n=44) for 8 weeks. Patients' clinical symptoms and change in the severity of dyspepsia symptoms were compared between the groups. Results: Common symptoms were epigastric pain and bloating. The intervention group had significantly more cases with retrosternal burn and bloating and less early satiety as compared to the control group. In both intervention and control groups dyspepsia severity was significantly reduced from 5.26±2.06 and 4.68±2.81 to 1.87±1.38 and 2.22±2.04, respectively (p<0.001). The percent of reduction in dyspepsia severity in intervention group was significantly higher than control group (-66.25±23.44% vs.-50.14±35.02%, p=0.01). Conclusion: PPI is an effective treatment for functional dyspepsia and NAC as an adjuvant to a PPI is a safe medication that can increase the response rate and treatment efficacy.