Wednesday June 18, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study recently published in Respiratory Research suggests that N-acetylcysteine supplements improved pulmonary hypertension.

Inflammation has been recently found implicated in the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a well-known safe antioxidant supplement may have immunomodulatory and cardioprotective propertiies. The current study was intended to examine the effect of the antioxidant on pulmonary hypertension.

For the study, three groups of rats, saline treated, monocrotaline (MCT) treated (to induce pulmonary hypertension) and MCT treated and N-acetylcysteine treated, were evaluated at the 28th day of treatment for hemodynamic parameters.

The study found that N-acetylcysteine supplementation significantly "decreased pulmonary vascular remodeling, lung inflammation, and improved total pulmonary resistance."

N-acetylcysteine also improved right ventricular function and decreased cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and heart fibrosis.

The study concluded "Through its immuno-modulatory and cardioprotective properties, NAC (N-acetylcysteine) has beneficial effect on pulmonary vascular and right heart function in experimental PH (pulmonary hypertension)." (david Liu, PHD)

Chaumais MC, Ranchoux B, Montani D, Dorfmüller P, Tu L, Lecerf F, Raymond N, Guignabert C, Price L, Simonneau G, Cohen-Kaminsky S, Humbert M, Perros F.  N-acetylcysteine improves established monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.  Respir Res. 2014 Jun 14;15(1):65.