Parkinson's patients try antioxidant supplements to boost brain health
NCT ID NCT02445651
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether nutritional supplements, specifically N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) given orally and intravenously, could support brain function in people with Parkinson's disease. The researchers measured dopamine activity and markers of inflammation in the brain using special scans. 51 participants were randomly assigned to receive NAC, standard care, or other oral supplements, though the oral supplement group was later dropped from analysis.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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51 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2014
- Finished
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Aug 2022
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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30 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease * Subject is between 30 - 80 years of age * Subject has a Hoehn and Yahr score of I - II inclusive * Subject is on stable or on antiparkinsonian medication for at least a month * Women of Childbearing potential will confirm a negative pregnancy test Exclusion Criteria: * Subject is allergic to iodine, cobalt, or any of the supplements that will be given in the study * Subject has had previous brain surgery * Subject has a score of 25 or less on Mini-Mental Status examination * Subject is wheelchair-bound or bed-ridden; non ambulatory * Subject has intracranial abnormalities that may complicate interpretation of the brain scans(e.g., stroke, tumor, vascular abnormality affecting the target area) * Subject has a history of head trauma with loss of consciousness greater than 48 hours * Subject has any medical disorder or physical condition that could reasonably be expected to interfere with the assessment of parkinsonian syndrome symptoms, or with any of the study assessments including the SPECT imaging. * Subject has evidence of a significant psychiatric disorder by history/examination that would prevent completion of the study * Subject has a current alcohol or drug abuse * Subject is pregnant or lactating * Subject is enrolled in active clinical (drug or device) trial within the prior 30 days * Subject is pending surgery during the course of the study * History of very low blood pressure * History of thrombocytopenia or clotting disorders * Cancer patients receiving active chemotherapy * History of active gallstone problems or a bile duct obstruction * History of uncontrolled diabetes, asthma, gastroesophageal reflex disease, or thyroid * History of severe kidney disease (if the patient reports this problem, a serum creatinine will be checked to assess GFR; if it is less than 30, the patient will be excluded) * History of Leber's disease, a hereditary eye disease * History of uncontrolled hypercalcemia * History of active sarcoidosis, histoplasmosis, or lymphoma * Patients taking medication that might interact with the supplements involved in this study will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by PI study physician
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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