{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T16:17:14Z","timestamp":1791908234039,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,14]],"date-time":"2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736812800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age and requires better treatment. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is known to be beneficial under such conditions owing to its antioxidant potential and insulin-sensitizing properties. The effect of NAC on the reproductive outcomes of PCOS patients was examined in this meta-analysis. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA standards, this meta-analysis included studies that compared N-acetylcysteine, metformin, clomiphene citrate, and a placebo in patients with POCS. The main indicators were follicular growth, endometrial thickness, and hormone level. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane ROB2 tool. Results: Twenty-two studies (n = 2515) were included. NAC was associated with a statistically significant increase in progesterone (SMD 0.95, 95% CI: 0.13\u20131.77, p = 0.02) and endometrial thickness (SMD 0.58, 95% CI: 0.10\u20131.06, p = 0.02) compared to the placebo and other drugs (SMD 0.71, 95% CI: 0.48\u20130.94, p &lt; 0.0001). LH levels were significantly increased by NAC compared to metformin (SMD 0.67, 95% CI: 0.23\u20131.12, p = 0.003). However, no significant differences were observed in the estradiol, SHBG, or FSH levels. Conclusions: NAC had a major effect on progesterone, endometrial thickness, and LH levels in women with PCOS. Therefore, it may be a potential treatment option.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17020284","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,14]],"date-time":"2025-01-14T11:28:31Z","timestamp":1736854111000},"page":"284","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-6571-152X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel","family":"Vi\u00f1a","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"IVB Wellness Lab, C\/Col\u00f3n 12, 46004 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Juan R.","family":"Vi\u00f1a","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Bioqu\u00edmica y Biolog\u00eda Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto INCLIVA, Universitat de Val\u00e8ncia, 46010 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Macarena","family":"Carranza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IVB Wellness Lab, C\/Col\u00f3n 12, 46004 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5166-198X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gonzalo","family":"Mariscal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, Valencia Catholic University, C\/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lfs.2024.123221","article-title":"Polycystic ovary syndrome: Recent research and therapeutic advancements","volume":"359","author":"Dilliyappan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Life Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e284","DOI":"10.3346\/jkms.2024.39.e284","article-title":"Similar but Distinct Comorbidity Patterns Between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Endometriosis in Korean Women: A Nationwide Cohort Study","volume":"39","author":"Jeong","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. 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