Effect of N-acetylcysteine administration on the expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes and the malondialdehyde level in the blood of lead-exposed workers

•NAC reduces lead-induced oxidative stress.•NAC normalizes antioxidant enzyme expression and activities in blood cells.•NAC may be an alternative therapy for chronic lead intoxication.

We investigated whether treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces oxidative stress intensity and restores the expression and activities of superoxide dismutase (Sod1, SOD), catalase (Cat, CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1, GPx) in lead-exposed workers.The exposed population was divided randomly into two groups. Workers in the first group (reference group, n = 49) were not administered any drugs, while workers in the second group (n = 122) were treated with NAC at three doses for 12 weeks (200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg/day).NAC administered orally to lead-exposed workers normalized antioxidant enzyme activities in blood cells. Oxidative stress intensity measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum, leukocytes and erythrocytes significantly decreased after NAC administration. NAC may be an alternative therapy for chronic lead intoxication.