N-acetylcysteine
N-acetylcysteine also known as Acetylcysteine or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) increases levels of Glutathione (GSH), the most common antioxidant in the body. Taking GSH directly is costly and inefficient, NAC is a more efficient and economical means delivering GSH to cells.[1] NAC is a pro-drug for l-cysteine which enables cells to synthesise Glutathione providing antioxidant benefits.[2]
Evidence[edit | edit source]
In a presentation to the 2016 IACFS/ME conference Dr Dikoma Shungu of Cornell University gave a presentation on a trial of NAC in ME/CFS patients. [3] Previously his team had found a 36% deficit of the tissue anti-oxidant occipital cortex glutathione (GSH) in the cortical areas of the brains ofME/CFS patients.[4]
The trial supplemented patients with 1800g daily of GSH precursor n-acetylcysteine for 4 weeks and looked at levels of GSH. The study found that GSH had increased in patients and that symptoms were significantly reduced.
Clinical use[edit | edit source]
No official use for ME/CFS currently.
Learn more[edit | edit source]
- Examine: Glutathione
- Examine: N-acetylcysteine
- Wikipedia - Oxidative Stress
- Health Rising: Brain on Fire (October 2013)
- N-Acetylcysteine Alleviates Cortical Glutathione Deficit and Improves Symptoms in CFS: An In Vivo Validation Study using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Dikoma Shungu et al (page 35 IACFS/ME Syllabus 2016)
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Examine:Glutathione
- ↑ Examine: N-acetylcysteine
- ↑ N-Acetylcysteine Alleviates Cortical Glutathione Deficit and Improves Symptoms in CFS: An In Vivo Validation Study using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Dikoma Shungu et al (page 35 IACFS/ME Syllabus 2016)
- ↑ Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome. III. Relationships to cortical glutathione and clinical symptoms implicate oxidative stress in disorder pathophysiology. Shungu et al
