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. NAC is a pro-drug for l-cysteine which enables cells to synthesise Glutathione providing antioxidant benefits.

Evidence
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. 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.

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
No official use for ME/CFS currently.

Learn more

 * 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)