N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

600mg

Rate-limiting precursor to glutathione - the primary endogenous antioxidant. NAC replenishes intracellular cysteine, the amino acid most depleted under oxidative stress. Extensively studied in peer-reviewed human trials.

Category Mitochondrial
Dose 600mg
Form Encapsulated - pharmaceutical grade
Evidence Level Strong - extensive clinical evidence

Mechanism

Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant intracellular antioxidant in human cells, present at millimolar concentrations in the liver. Its synthesis is rate-limited by cysteine availability - the most unstable of its three constituent amino acids. NAC provides a stable, bioavailable cysteine source that directly replenishes GSH.

Under conditions of oxidative stress, infection, or physical exertion, cysteine is depleted faster than diet can replace it. NAC supplementation restores GSH to baseline, protecting mitochondria, immune cells, and the liver from oxidative damage.

Key Benefits

  • Stable source of cysteine. The rate-limiting amino acid for glutathione synthesis
  • Synergistic with glycine in GlyNAC research (ageing and oxidative-stress markers)
  • Pharmacopoeial grade at ≥99% purity
  • Encapsulated: NAC has a natural sulphur odour
  • 600mg matches the dose used in published clinical trials

The Research

Peer-reviewed human trials supporting this ingredient at this dose.

Šalamon Š, et al. (2019). Antioxidants (Basel). 8(5):111.Medical and dietary uses of N-Acetylcysteine.PubMed →
Aldini G, et al. (2018). Free Radic Res. 52(7):751-62.N-Acetylcysteine as an antioxidant and disulphide breaking agent: the reasons why.PubMed →
Tenório MCDS, et al. (2021). Antioxidants (Basel). 10(6):967.N-Acetylcysteine (NAC): impacts on human health.PubMed →
Aquilano K, et al. (2014). Front Pharmacol. 5:196.Glutathione: new roles in redox signaling for an old antioxidant.PubMed →
In the formula

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

600mg

Encapsulated - pharmaceutical grade

When to take it

Any time of day, with food. Encapsulation eliminates the sulphurous odour that characterises raw NAC powder.

Works well with

Performance Glycine 2,000mg Mitochondrial Alpha Lipoic Acid 200mg Mitochondrial Ubiquinol (CoQ10) 100mg
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