NAC (N-acetylcysteine) and healthy aging

What 2 graded rows on nac (n-acetylcysteine) agree on for healthy aging, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the NAC (N-acetylcysteine) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the NAC (N-acetylcysteine) page, with its PubMed record.

Supplement

NAC (N-acetylcysteine) Choose another

2 rows · 138 people

Split. 1 row found an improvement and 1 found no difference.

No difference

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside.

From the rows

Trial sizeHow longWhen publishedGrade

The best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 114 people (2022) and found no difference.

The row that found no difference was larger: 114 people, against 24 people for the row that found an improvement.

The row that found an improvement ran longer (4 months) than the row that found no difference (2 weeks).

The row that found an improvement is newer (2023) than the row that found no difference (2022).

The best grade is C among the row that found no difference, and D among the row that found an improvement.

1 improved · 1 no difference

Grade DGlutathione, oxidative stress and physical function in older adults (GlyNAC) · Improved
RCT · n 24 · 2023 · Older adults (12 GlyNAC, 12 alanine placebo)
Not stated in the abstract · 16 weeks
GlyNAC, but not placebo, improved glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, inflammation, insulin resistance, physical function, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure, and was well tolerated.
Row on the NAC (N-acetylcysteine) page · PubMed 35975308 (opens PubMed)
Grade CGlutathione status in healthy older adults (GlyNAC) · No difference
RCT · n 114 · 2022 · Healthy older adults (mean age 65)
2.4, 4.8 or 7.2 g/day · 2 weeks
GlyNAC was safe and well tolerated but did not raise the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio or total glutathione overall. In a subgroup with high oxidative stress and low baseline glutathione, the 4.8 and 7.2 g doses increased glutathione.
Row on the NAC (N-acetylcysteine) page · PubMed 35821844 (opens PubMed)