Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive aged women, affecting up to 10% of this population. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries and oligo- or anovulation, and is often associated with insulin resistance and weight gain2. N-acetylcysteine is a popular supplement that is used in PCOS patients to improve insulin resistance, ovulation and and decrease androgens.
What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is the decreased ability for cells to respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is required pull glucose from the blood into the cells, and is therefore important in regulating blood sugar. When our cells don’t respond properly to insulin, blood sugar rises and our body secretes more insulin to deal with this. It’s a vicious cycle. Elevated baseline insulin causes receptors to be less sensitive, which leaves excess glucose in the blood because it is not pulled into cells efficiently. This can lead to elevated triglycerides, cortisol, inflammation and an increased risk for diabetes.
Signs of insulin resistance include:
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Skin tags
- Acanthosis nigricans – dark patches of skin usually found in areas such as the armpits, groin or back of the neck
- Feeling light headed, confused or shaky when you skip a meal.
Approximately 50-70% of women with PCOS experience some degree of insulin resistance due to defects in the post-binding insulin signaling5.
Insulin has a direct action on steroid production and ovulation. Insulin amplifies the action of luteinizing hormone, increases androgen production and may contribute to follicular arrest4. Therefore, hyperinsulinemia may contribute to hyperandrogenism. This exacerbates the symptoms of PCOS such as hirsutism, acne and anovulation5. Impaired glucose metabolism also increases the risk of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer and has a significant impact on female fertility7.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an anti-inflammatory nutrient that is a precursor to glutathione. Glutathione is a very powerful antioxidant that is important for reducing oxidative stress in the body, something that PCOS patients often experience at increased levels. Increased oxidative stress can lead to increased androgens and inflammation. In PCOS patients, NAC is can be used to increase insulin secretion from pancreas and improve insulin receptor sensitivity to glucose by increasing cellular levels of glutathione2. Studies have shown that by decreasing insulin, we can decrease testosterone and androgen levels. This can help to improve symptoms of hyperandrogenism such as acne and hirsutism (course hair growth in areas such as the chin, between the breasts, abdomen and thighs).
In some studies, it was found that NAC improved insulin resistance and lipid profiles more effectively or was comparable to Metformin 3,6. Metformin is a commonly prescribed pharmaceutical for blood sugar regulation in diabetic or PCOS patients. Metformin works by decreasing the glucose output from the liver and lowering fasting insulin. However, it also affects the absorption of vitamin B12 and may have adverse side effects such as nausea, diarrhea or bloating. Additionally, NAC is comparable to Metformin at improving symptoms of hyperandrogenism and anovulation6. Therefore, it can be used to ameliorate acne, male pattern hair growth on the body, hair loss on the scalp and regulate the menstrual cycle.
NAC has also been shown to protect cells from oxidative damage which provides long term benefits for insulin secretion, sensitivity and metabolism. By increasing intracellular glutathione, NAC can be used to improve egg and embryo quality1 which is beneficial for PCOS patients who are looking to conceive in the future.
It is important to note that although NAC can improve insulin receptor sensitivity and blood glucose levels, diet and lifestyle are the most fundamental factors when it comes to PCOS. Consuming a low glycemic index diet will ensure blood glucose levels are more stable, which decreases the amount of insulin required to be secreted to shuttle that glucose out of the blood and into the cells. Therefore, no supplement will be able to effectively improve insulin resistance while consuming a high glycemic diet. Supplements are often used as an added benefit after the fundamentals of health are put into place.
It is important to talk to your Naturopathic Doctor before incorporating new supplements into your daily routine to ensure it is safe, the correct dosage and if it is the right supplement for you.
- Cheraghi, E., Mehranjani, M. S., Shariatzadeh, M. A., Esfahani, M. H., & Ebrahimi, Z. (2016). N-Acetylcysteine improves oocyte and embryo quality in polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection: an alternative to metformin. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 28(6), 723
- Fulghesu, A. (2002). N-acetyl-cysteine treatment improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertility and Sterility, 77(6), 1128-113
- Javanmanesh, F. et al. (2015) A comparison between the effects of metformin And N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on some metabolic and endocrine characteristics of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Gynecological Endocrinology, 32(4), pp. 285–289
- Kanthi, Bansal. Dimri, Pooja Sharma. Reddy, Apoorva Pallam. Decoding Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Jaypee Brothers Medical p, 2017
- Legro RS, Castracane VD, Kauffman RP. Detecting insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome: Purposes and pitfalls. Obstet Gynecol Surv 2004;59:141–15
- Oner, G., & Muderris, I. I. (2011). Clinical, endocrine and metabolic effects of metformin vs N-acetyl-cysteine in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 159(1), 127-131
- Wu, S., Divall, S., Nwaopara, A., Radovick, S., Wondisford, F., Ko, C., & Wolfe, A. (2013). Obesity-Induced Infertility and Hyperandrogenism Are Corrected by Deletion of the Insulin Receptor in the Ovarian Theca Cell. Diabetes, 63(4), 1270-1282. doi:10.2337/db13-1514