The participants were receiving usual care at an addiction center. They took either N-acetylcysteine (1,200 milligrams per day) or a placebo. The participants were inpatients for the initial week of the intervention, after which they were assessed as outpatients. Follow-up measurements were taken at 8 weeks.

Liver enzymes improved (decreased) in both groups, but inflammatory markers, serum BDNF, and most oxidative stress biomarkers were unchanged in both groups. However, N-acetylcysteine decreased superoxide dismutase activity, an important marker of antioxidant status.

Does N-acetylcysteine help people with alcohol use disorder? Original paper