Background The roles of antioxidant therapy on non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) in uremic rats is still unclear. Materials and methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into blank, 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx), pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, 10 mg/100 g), sodium bicarbonate (SB, 0.1 g/100 g), N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 80 mg/100 g) and thyroid hormones (TH, levothyroxine 2 mg/100 g) groups. The serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), interleukin (IL)-1b, free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected in the sixth week. The expressions of IL-1b and deiodinase type 1 (DIO1) were assessed by western blotting. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) inflammatory signal pathway was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results Compared with 5/6 Nx group, PDTC and NAC significantly reduced the levels (p50.01, respectively) of serum MDA, AOPP, TSH, and elevated levels of serum SOD (p50.01, respectively) and FT3 (p ¼ 0.016 and p50.01). Neither had significant effects on serum IL-1b content (p ¼ 0.612 and p ¼ 0.582). PDTC and NAC markedly decreased the protein expression of IL-1b (p50.01) and increased the protein expression of DIO1 (p50.01), respectively. Both had been considerably blunted NF-kB activity (p50.01). Conclusions In uremic rat model, PDTC and NAC can effectively improve oxidative stress level and NTIS. In terms of improving oxidative stress level, NAC is probably superior to PDTC.