NAC
An approved hospital drug. Mixed results as a supplement.
Grade B: Some human proof
Small, early or mixed results in people.
The grade is for the use people talk about, not for every use. Filed under: Health and wellness, over the counter.
How it works
Gives the body a building block for glutathione, an antioxidant inside cells.
How it was given in studies
By mouth. In the trials people swallowed it as a capsule, tablet, powder or drink.
This is what the studies did. It is not a how-to.
What studies saw
An FDA-approved hospital antidote for acetaminophen overdose. In chronic bronchitis trials it cut flare-ups. A review of seven studies found no real gain in exercise performance.
The trade-off
The drug label lists nausea and vomiting. In the bronchitis trials, stomach complaints were about as common on placebo. The FDA says it does not count as a supplement, but allows it to be sold as one for now.
When it showed up, in studies
Fewer bronchitis flare-ups in trials that ran 12 to 24 weeks.
No timeline as a daily supplement for healthy people.
Sources
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Keep going
We show what studies found. We never tell you what to take. Doses vary by study. Check the sources and talk to a doctor.