As we age, issues with our health start to emerge, becoming more pronounced in the later years of life. Initial effects include increases in levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction starts to develop. Insulin resistance can grow. Our muscles weaken and cognition deteriorates. Ageing is the most significant risk factor for poor cognition or neurogenerative diseases such as dementia. Effective treatments that slow or stop this ageing process are still in the early stages of research. However, the combined NAC-glycine supplement shows favourable results of reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, especially in our later years.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a safe and effective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant drug. It was originally made medically available to combat exposure to toxic substances or drug overdose and is an antioxidant derived from the onion plant. NAC is commonly used following a paracetamol overdose, protecting against liver injury or damage. It also does not increase liver enzymes (which can also lead to liver damage). NAC comes from the cysteine amino acid. Although this amino acid is classified as non-essential, meaning that the body naturally produces cysteine, supplementary cysteine may sometimes be required when the body is stressed with an illness or disease.
There are some evidence-based benefits of using a NAC- supplement to support the following health conditions.
Some evidence suggests that taking a NAC-glycine supplement can help with fertitily issues including polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent unexplained pregnancy loss, and male infertility.
Studies have found some success in using NAC as a complementary intervention in psychological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse disorders. The primary factor in an inconsistency of benefits from taking NAC is due to the participants’ inconsistency in taking a daily NAC supplement.
NAC has been shown to help manage cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and chronic bronchitis.
Some studies show that taking NAC supplements (orally, or intravenous) can improve brain concentrations of glutathione. This could potentially help to slow down cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Glycine is an amino acid and a key contributor to the largest internally produced antioxidant, glutathione (GSH). Sufficient levels of glycine are essential for healthy brain function, whilst a lack of GSH is linked to the ageing process, especially in adults aged 70 years or more. GSH is a primary antioxidant in the brain. Therefore, a loss of GSH leads to increased levels of oxidative stress, which results in cellular damage. Therefore, insufficient GSH is often observed in people with a chronic illness, such as diabetes, AIDS/HIV, heart disease, or neurological disease such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
A key benefit of pairing NAC with glycine in supplement form is that it boosts the production of GSH. Increasing GSH production generates an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect in the body that slows down the ageing process. A recent pilot clinical study supports this theory, which has been subsequently verified in a randomised clinical trial. These studies found that taking a NAC-glycine supplement improved muscle strength and cognition, reduced free radicals (and oxidative stress), and benefited mitochondrial function. There was a significant reduction in visceral fat (fat around the waist), but this effect reversed once the participants stopped taking the supplement.
Even healthy older adults show evidence of increased oxidative stress, which is likely to be a by-product of ageing. However, a randomised controlled trial on healthy older adults aged 60 to 85 years found that higher doses of NAC-glycine supplementation supported GSH biosynthesis when higher levels of oxidative stress were present. Therefore, in the absence of having a chronic illness, the challenge is to determine whether your levels of oxidative stress are high enough to benefit from taking a NAC-glycine supplement.
Small clinical trials administering a NAC-glycine supplement to older adults with high inflammation and insulin resistance support the benefits of taking this supplement, including reduced oxidative stress levels and better cognition and metabolism. Oxidative stress is linked to diabetes, hypertension, macular degeneration, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, Covid, and HIV. Therefore, reducing oxidative stress is an important health goal. The key to reducing oxidative stress with supplements is finding the balance. We need sufficient antioxidants to balance the free radicals and thus prevent oxidative stress. Too little or too many antioxidants leads to different health issues.
Side effects when taking a NAC-glycine supplement are very uncommon. Recent studies demonstrate minimal side effects associated with taking an oral NAC-glycine supplement, most commonly minor gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea.
There is evidence to support the efficacy of a NAC-glycine supplement in certain health conditions. However, it is also important to determine the amount and duration of dose appropriate for your own health profile. Seek individual health advice from your healthcare professional, and be sure to incorporate a healthy diet and physical movement alongside any supplement regime.
