A common amino acid available in health food supplements may help to reduce the urges of gambling addicts, scientists have reported.
An eight-week trial of N-acetyl cysteine was performed by researchers at the University of Minnesota, who gave supplements to 27 people.
According to a report due to be published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, 60 per cent of the participants claimed to feel fewer urges to gamble by the end of the trial period.
Dr Jon Grant, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota and principal study investigator, said that the results look "very promising".
"We were able to reduce people's urges to gamble," he revealed, adding that the research could be encouraging for many addictions.
Other studies involving the amino acid have found that it may be able to curb drug addictions in animals and the University of Minnesota is currently seeking additional funding to continue its research into its effects on gambling addicts.
A common amino acid available in health food supplements may help to reduce the urges of gambling addicts, scientists have reported.
