N-acetylcysteine (glutathione precursor)

inflammation redox

Approved medicine for another condition in 7 of 9 markets tracked; in clinical trials in 1.

2 randomized trials (60 people, 8-16 weeks). 1 improved its main endpoint, a blood or epigenetic marker; 1 found no effect. 2 trials reported no pre-planned main endpoint. 1 other study gave a different intervention (SkQ1) and is shown for context, not counted.

Doses studied: 1.31 mmol/kg/day glycine (with N-acetylcysteine 0.83 mmol/kg/day); 100 mg/kg/day each of glycine and N-acetylcysteine; 1800 mg.

Evidence map

each mark is a study; size shows participants; hover, tap or focus for details

main endpoints improvedno effectworsenedmixedobservationalanother intervention, contextsize not reported

Higher rows are closer to a person taking this. A case that rests only on the lower rows rests on animals or cells.

What each study measured

outlined square: the main (primary) endpoint

Harms reported

human studies

Where it is available

by regulator; select a market for its source

If you are tracking this yourself

measures the human studies used, by how repeatable they are

Repeatability is whether the same person measured twice gets the same number. It is not statistical significance. It informs study or protocol design only, never advice for a person.

What would change this picture

each study's own statement

Trials under way

Every study (10)

T6 Kumar 2023a Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, and Aging Hallmarks: A Randomized Clinical Trial doi:10.1093/gerona/glac135
T6 Gupta 2016 A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial of N-acetylcysteine on oxidative stress and endothelial function in HIV-infected older adults receiving antiretroviral treatment doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001222
T6 Kumar 2020 Supplementing Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Aging HIV Patients Improves Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Endothelial Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, Genotoxicity, Strength, and Cognition: Results of an Open-Label Clinical Trial doi:10.3390/biomedicines8100390
T6 Kumar 2021 Glycine and N‐acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition: Results of a pilot clinical trial doi:10.1002/ctm2.372
T5 Lakhani 2026 N-acetylcysteine Use and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Large United States Cohort doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10620309/v1
T3 Kolosova 2012 The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 but not N-acetylcysteine reverses aging-related biomarkers in rats doi:10.18632/aging.100493
T3 Kumar 2023b GlyNAC (Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine) Supplementation in Old Mice Improves Brain Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Glucose Uptake, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Genomic Damage, Inflammation and Neurotrophic Factors to Reverse Age-Associated Cognitive Decline: Implications for Improving Brain Health in Aging doi:10.3390/antiox12051042
T3 Marie 2018 N-acetylcysteine Treatment Reduces Age-related Hearing Loss and Memory Impairment in the Senescence-Accelerated Prone 8 (SAMP8) Mouse Model doi:10.14336/ad.2017.0930
T3 More 2018 N-Acetylcysteine Prevents the Spatial Memory Deficits and the Redox-Dependent RyR2 Decrease Displayed by an Alzheimer’s Disease Rat Model doi:10.3389/fnagi.2018.00399
TX Wang 2026 Glycine and N-acetylcysteine supplementation, with or without exercise, in brain health and functional aging: implications for sarcopenia and frailty in older adults doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1775264