Retracted: Randomized controlled trial of N ‐acetylcysteine versus l ‐carnitine among women with clomiphene‐citrate‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective To compare clinical and metabolic profiles between N ‐acetylcysteine and l ‐carnitine among women with clomiphene citrate ( CC )‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ). Methods A randomized trial at Zagazig University between January 2017 and March 2018. Women with CC ‐resistant PCOS were allocated randomly to receive CC plus N ‐acetylcysteine or CC plus l ‐carnitine. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate; secondary outcomes were ovulation rate and metabolic changes. Results Overall, 162 women completed the study ( N ‐acetylcysteine group, n=82; l ‐carnitine group, n=80). After 3 months, there was no difference in pregnancy ( P =0.15), ovulation ( P =0.21), or spontaneous abortion ( P =0.11) rates between the two groups. There was no significant decrease in BMI in either group (both P >0.05). There were improvements in menstrual pattern, follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, free testosterone, and insulin resistance markers in both groups (all P <0.05). An improvement in lipid profile was observed only in the l ‐carnitine group ( P <0.001). N ‐Acetylcysteine treatment led to significantly greater improvement in free testosterone and insulin resistance parameters as compared with l ‐carnitine (all P <0.05). Conclusions Both N ‐acetylcysteine and l ‐carnitine were equally effective in improving pregnancy and ovulation rates among women with CC ‐resistant PCOS . However, N ‐acetylcysteine was superior in ameliorating insulin resistance and only l ‐carnitine improved lipid profile. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT 03164421.