Thorne NAC - N-Acetylcysteine Review
NAC - N-Acetylcysteine from Thorne is a 500 mg capsule supplement, sold in a 90 serving container, that is presented as a potent antioxidant supporting comprehensive wellness, including liver, respiratory, kidney, and immune health. The page explains that N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid that provides significant benefits by increasing the body's production of glutathione and neutralizing free radicals to support detoxification. The product details state that NAC provides benefits throughout the body, from the lungs to the liver. The page attributes this wide range of benefits to its direct antioxidant effects, its importance for replenishing glutathione, and its potential to break disulfide bonds. According to the page, this ability to break disulfide bonds is how NAC is able to break up mucus and thin secretions. The page also states that NAC binds toxic metabolites, increases blood flow to vital organs, and supports a balanced inflammatory response. The listed benefits include helping to break up mucus secretions in the respiratory tract, supporting the natural clearance process in the lungs and sinuses, and supporting the production and function of immune cells. It also lists enhancing antioxidant activity to promote a balanced inflammatory response throughout the body, supporting liver and kidney detoxification by aiding the clearance of heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium, protecting the liver and kidneys from toxic insults, and performing wide-ranging antioxidant functions to help the body neutralize free radicals and replenish its glutathione stores. The ingredient table lists N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine at 500mg per capsule, with a serving size of 1 capsule and 90 servings per container. Other ingredients are leucine, silicon dioxide, and hypromellose capsule derived from cellulose. The page notes that this product has been third-party tested and certified to verify that what is in the package matches the label and to confirm it contains no unsafe levels of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and microorganisms. Warnings state that the product is contraindicated in an individual with a history of hypersensitivity to any of its ingredients. Pregnant individuals are advised to consult a health-care practitioner before using it. The page states there are no known adverse interactions or contraindications at the publication date. The price is listed at $33 for 90 capsules, or $29.70 with a subscription that saves 10 percent, and a 180 serving option is also offered.
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Study, Trial or Testing Result Summary
Members Only40 human studies · 24 improved
6 of these 40 human studies gave n-acetylcysteine by drip, not by mouth.
This product gives N-acetylcysteine at a full dose, above the 400 mg that worked in studies. No human study has measured biological age with it. Several trials show it can lower oxidative stress, a kind of cell wear linked to aging. In 120 men, 600 mg daily for 3 months raised antioxidant capacity and lowered oxidative stress compared with placebo [1]. In 171 lead-exposed workers, 400 or 800 mg daily for 12 weeks lowered fat damage from oxidation, more so at the higher dose [2]. In 140 adults with tuberculosis, 1200 mg twice daily for 4 months raised glutathione, the body's main antioxidant, and lowered an inflammatory signal, but slowed clearance of the bacteria [3]. In 24 older adults, a combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine improved energy production in cells, inflammation and physical function, but this tested the pair together, not N-acetylcysteine alone [4]. Not all trials agreed. In 154 surgery patients, it did not change inflammation or oxidative stress [5], and in 60 women with Sjögren's disease, 1200 mg daily for 90 days did not change oxidative stress [6]. Animal and cell studies are never counted.
See all 40 studies →Hide the studies
- In 171 male lead-exposed workers, 12 weeks of N-acetylcysteine at 400 mg and 800 mg lowered lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent way and raised vitamin E levels compared with untreated workers.Effect of treatment with N-acetylcysteine on non-enzymatic antioxidant reserves and lipid peroxidation in workers expose…
- In 154 patients having major chest surgery, adding intravenous N-acetylcysteine to amiodarone for 48 hours did not reduce atrial fibrillation or change inflammation and oxidative stress markers compared with placebo.Amiodarone with or without N-Acetylcysteine for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation after Thoracic Surgery: A Double-b…
- In 140 adults with pulmonary tuberculosis, N-acetylcysteine 1200 mg twice daily for 4 months raised glutathione and lowered an inflammatory signal (TNF-alpha), but slowed clearance of the bacteria from sputum.N-acetylcysteine modulates markers of oxidation, inflammation and infection in tuberculosis.
- In 120 men with unexplained infertility, 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine daily for 3 months raised antioxidant capacity and lowered blood oxidative stress compared with placebo, and improved semen volume and motility.Effects of N-acetylcysteine on semen parameters and oxidative/antioxidant status.
- In 82 middle-aged men, 1.8 g of N-acetylcysteine daily for 4 weeks lowered blood homocysteine by about 12% and lowered blood pressure compared with placebo, regardless of cholesterol or smoking status.Oral N-acetylcysteine reduces plasma homocysteine concentrations regardless of lipid or smoking status.
- In 81 people with HIV and low glutathione, 8 weeks of oral N-acetylcysteine raised whole blood and T cell glutathione compared with placebo, with minimal side effects.N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione in HIV infection.
- In 75 children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, N-acetylcysteine at 10 mg per kg daily for 3 months lowered oxidative stress and DNA damage and raised antioxidant capacity and pre-transfusion hemoglobin.N-Acetylcysteine supplementation reduces oxidative stress and DNA damage in children with β-thalassemia.
- In 75 breast cancer patients on paclitaxel, 12 weeks of N-acetylcysteine (1200 mg once or twice daily) reduced nerve damage symptoms and lowered the oxidative stress marker MDA compared with no supplement.Evaluation of the effect of N-acetylcysteine on the prevention and amelioration of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropa…
- In 63 people with early psychosis, 2700 mg of N-acetylcysteine daily for 6 months did not improve symptoms but improved processing speed and raised brain glutathione by 23% and blood cell glutathione by 19%.N-acetylcysteine in a Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial: Toward Biomarker-Guided Treatment in Early Psych…
- In 62 people with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine daily for 6 months shifted 29 blood fat features back toward healthy levels and improved heart rate variability.Correlation of plasma lipidomic profiles with cardiometabolic disease in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients with…
- In 60 women with Sjögren's disease, 1,200 mg of N-acetylcysteine daily for 90 days did not improve dryness symptoms or change oxidative stress markers compared with placebo.Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine for treating dryness symptoms of Sjögren's disease: randomised placebo-controlled double-bl…
- In 53 inpatients with alcohol use disorder, N-acetylcysteine for 9 weeks did not improve treatment adherence, time to relapse or clinical outcomes compared with placebo.A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant treatment for alcohol use disord…
- In 46 dialysis patients getting a med amikacin, N-acetylcysteine better protected hearing in higher frequencies than placebo at 4 weeks.Preventing amikacin related ototoxicity with N-acetylcysteine in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
- In 45 patients with a med overdose, a shorter 12-hour N-acetylcysteine regimen raised antioxidant levels at 12 hours more than the standard regimen, but other markers did not differ between the two.Read the study on PubMed (33742775) →
- In 40 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder taking 2400 mg daily of N-acetylcysteine for eight weeks, brain glutathione rose compared with placebo, glutamate showed only a trend toward lower levels, and no effects on symptoms or cognition were seen.N-Acetylcysteine effects on glutathione and glutamate in schizophrenia: A preliminary MRS study.
- In 35 bypass surgery patients, adding N-acetylcysteine to the heart-protecting solution preserved heart glutathione, lowered an inflammatory enzyme, and reduced white cells entering the heart during reperfusion compared with the solution alone.N-acetylcysteine as an additive to crystalloid cardioplegia increased oxidative stress capacity in CABG patients.
- In 33 patients having major abdominal surgery, N-acetylcysteine given from two days before surgery to five days after lowered a marker of oxidative damage and improved the balance of antioxidant to oxidized glutathione compared with control.Improved oxidative status in major abdominal surgery patients after N-acetyl cystein supplementation.
- In 33 adults with RYR1-related myopathy taking 2700 mg daily of N-acetylcysteine for six months, oxidative stress measured by urine isoprostane and six-minute walk distance did not improve compared with placebo.Randomized controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine therapy for RYR1-related myopathies.
- In 30 smokers with mild to moderate COPD, 10 days of 600 mg N-acetylcysteine twice daily lowered reactive oxygen species in the blood but produced only a short-lived improvement in airway response to salbutamol.Erdosteine enhances airway response to salbutamol in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD.
- In 30 patients with organophosphate pesticide poisoning, 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine three times daily for 3 days lowered malondialdehyde, raised reduced glutathione, and reduced atropine requirements compared with usual care alone.N-acetylcysteine in Acute Organophosphorus Pesticide Poisoning: A Randomized, Clinical Trial.
- In 24 older adults, 16 weeks of GlyNAC, compared with an alanine placebo, corrected glutathione deficiency and oxidative stress, improved mitochondrial function and inflammation, and improved physical function and insulin resistance.Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, M…
- In 20 people with paranoid schizophrenia, 2000 mg of NAC daily for 60 days, compared with placebo, reduced negative and general symptom scores and improved working memory.[The double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine use in schizophrenia: preliminary results].
- In 20 recreationally trained women, a single dose of N-acetylcysteine before exercise raised blood antioxidant thiols and blunted the exercise-induced rise in malondialdehyde only in women not using oral contraceptives, with no effect on cycling performance.Blood oxidative stress biomarkers in women: influence of oral contraception, exercise, and N-acetylcysteine.
- In 18 healthy adults, a single 90-minute infusion of an antioxidant combination containing N-acetylcysteine was safe and raised the blood's antioxidant capacity compared with saline.Safety and Pharmacokinetics of a Combined Antioxidant Therapy against Myocardial Reperfusion Injury: A Phase 1 Randomize…
- In a placebo-controlled trial of 15 climbers at high altitude, a daily antioxidant mix including N-acetylcysteine did not change endothelial microparticle levels or oxidative stress compared with placebo.Increased endothelial microparticles and oxidative stress at extreme altitude.
- In 13 people with mild COPD taking 1800 mg daily of N-acetylcysteine for four days in a crossover trial, blood glutathione rose but exercise tolerance did not improve compared with placebo.Oral N-acetylcysteine and exercise tolerance in mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- In 13 children with fatty liver disease and obesity, 600 or 1200 mg of NAC daily for 16 weeks, compared with placebo, lowered inflammation and oxidative stress markers, improved insulin resistance, and reduced liver enzymes and liver fat.Effect of N-acetyl cysteine in children with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-A pilot study.
- In women with severe preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome, oral NAC compared with placebo did not change the time to delivery or maternal and neonatal outcomes, though it lowered plasma homocysteine.Oral N-acetylcysteine administration does not stabilise the process of established severe preeclampsia.
- In a placebo-controlled trial of adults undergoing lung resection, a preoperative N-acetylcysteine infusion raised plasma thiols but did not reduce inflammation or oxidative damage compared with placebo.Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress post-lung resection: Effect of pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine.
- In placebo-controlled trials of people with mild to moderate COVID-19, a mixture containing N-acetylcysteine with other metabolic activators shortened time to full recovery and improved blood markers of inflammation and antioxidant metabolism.Combined Metabolic Activators Accelerates Recovery in Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19.
- In a placebo-controlled trial of Alzheimer's patients over 12 weeks, a daily supplement combining N-acetyl-L-cysteine with three other compounds improved thinking and memory scores more than placebo.Combined metabolic activators improve cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease patients: a randomised, double-blinded,…
- In an open-label randomized trial of people poisoned by aluminum phosphide, those given N-acetylcysteine infusion had lower blood markers of lipid peroxidation, shorter hospital stays, and fewer intubations than controls, though mortality was not significantly different.Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on aluminum phosphide-induced oxidative stress in acute human poisoning.
- In 28 advanced cancer patients, 10 days of intravenous N-acetylcysteine at 1800 mg per day reduced reactive oxygen levels and lowered the inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF.Reactive oxygen species, antioxidant mechanisms and serum cytokine levels in cancer patients: impact of an antioxidant t…
- In 20 people with chronic kidney disease receiving intravenous iron, NAC reduced the acute rise in oxidative stress but did not prevent transient kidney tubular injury or proteinuria.Oxidative stress and renal injury with intravenous iron in patients with chronic kidney disease.
- In 13 adults with type 2 diabetes, two 2-week courses of oral N-acetylcysteine at two doses did not improve blood sugar control, insulin response or oxidative status.The antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine does not improve glucose tolerance or β-cell function in type 2 diabetes.
- In 11 people with sickle cell disease, 6 weeks of oral N-acetylcysteine at 1200 or 2400 mg daily raised whole blood glutathione and lowered markers of cell damage and advanced glycation end-products.N-acetylcysteine reduces oxidative stress in sickle cell patients.
- In 8 older adults taking GlyNAC for 24 weeks without a placebo group, glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation improved, along with insulin resistance, cognition and strength; benefits declined after stopping for 12 weeks.Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress,…
- In boys with childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy receiving high-dose NAC (280 mg/kg/day) with transplant, antioxidant markers HO-1 and ferritin rose compared with baseline, but this was an uncontrolled study.Mechanisms of Antioxidant Induction with High-Dose N-Acetylcysteine in Childhood Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy.
- In people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, those with short telomeres had worse outcomes when treated with immunosuppressive drugs, including a regimen that contained N-acetylcysteine, so this does not show that N-acetylcysteine itself helps.Telomere Length and Use of Immunosuppressive Medications in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
- In a small uncontrolled pilot of 10 patients with prolonged low platelets after stem cell transplant, N-acetylcysteine produced an overall response in 7 of 10, and in laboratory tests it improved the function of bone marrow stem cells from these patients.N-acetyl-L-cysteine improves mesenchymal stem cell function in prolonged isolated thrombocytopenia post-allotransplant.
Review Totals and Summary
Members Only2,933 reviews · 93% positive
Across the stores that sell it, Thorne NAC carries about 2,933 ratings, and feedback is mostly positive. Most written reviews give 4 or 5 stars, with a small group of buyers who saw no change or had a stomach problem. This summary covers the capsules only; the reviews and store summaries I was given did not include other forms. **What buyers say it did for them:** The most common benefit is liver support. One buyer wrote that it "brought my liver numbers back into normal range." Another said their "doctor was impressed how well my liver has improved." Others mention general wellbeing and energy: "Better energy in general" at 500 mg twice daily, and "I feel better taking it" than before. Some link it to fewer respiratory problems ("I've not had an upper respiratory infection since last summer") or to mood in winter. One buyer called it "a game changer for my histamine intolerance." A husband's recovery from pneumonia was also credited to it by his wife, who takes it daily. The store page's own summary also mentions immune function, lung health and detoxification support. **What they complain about:** Complaints are few. One buyer reported it "caused a bad stomachache." Two others saw no change in the problem they bought it for. One had no change in gallstone size after a bottle, saying "there should have been some change." Another had "not noticed a decrease in phlegm" after starting a second bottle. These are the 1- to 3-star reviews. One store's page shows a small share of low ratings, with 9 one-star and 2 two-star ratings out of 260. **Taste, smell, pill size or form:** None of the reviews or store summaries comment on taste, smell or pill size. One buyer says each capsule can be taken two to three times a day, and another takes 500 mg twice daily. No detail is given beyond that. **Value for money:** No one comments on price or value. The closest remark is about freshness and shipping: one buyer praised "quick ship and most important fresh," with an expiry date almost two years away. **Who it seems to suit and who it did not:** It seems to suit people who already trust Thorne's quality, which is the most frequent point of praise. Several buyers say they trust the brand, and one was swayed by a doctor who "doesn't go without" NAC. It suits people who want a daily supplement for liver, energy or general health, and those following a practitioner's suggestion. It suited less well those hoping for a visible change in a specific condition, such as gallstones or phlegm, and the person who got stomach pain. One buyer asked how long it should be taken, so some people want guidance on duration that the reviews do not give. **Bottom line:** Buyers who are happy tend to cite quality, trust in the brand, and liver or energy benefits. The negative reports are few and mostly concern lack of effect for a specific problem.
Biohacker Summary
Members Only0 of 10 recommend it
Our biohacker panel has not discussed this product’s ingredients yet.
RAL Summary
Members OnlyTier 3 for Healthy Aging
Tier 1 needs a controlled trial showing biological age reversed, but no study measured biological age, and the one rejuvenation-style trial tested glycine plus N-acetylcysteine together rather than N-acetylcysteine alone. So it is graded Tier 3, lower than the rules alone gave.
Where the evidence disagrees: 10 of the 40 human studies found no effect.
More Details
Members OnlyBody systems · Combine with · Possible side effects
Body systems: Immune system, Respiratory system, Liver, Reproductive system
Combine with: NAC is a cysteine precursor that boosts intracellular glutathione, the body's master antioxidant, which supports defense against oxidative damage to DNA, proteins and mitochondria. Pair it with glycine (as in the GlyNAC approach, which has human data on glutathione restoration and markers of aging), plus vitamin C and vitamin E for antioxidant recycling. Add selenium (a cofactor for glutathione peroxidase), alpha-lipoic acid, and riboflavin (B2) for glutathione reductase support. For broader cellular repair, consider NAD+ precursors such as NMN or nicotinamide riboside, with CoQ10 or PQQ for mitochondrial support and omega-3s for membrane health. Take NAC with water, consider separating it from nitroglycerin-type medications, and consult a clinician if you are on meds or have asthma.
Possible side effects: In a tuberculosis trial, high-dose N-acetylcysteine slowed clearance of the bacteria from sputum. No other major side effects reported in the studies given.
Supplement Facts
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine 500 mg
| N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine | 500 mg | † |
Other ingredients: Hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, Leucine, Silicon Dioxide.
Directions: Take 1 capsule two to three times daily or as recommended by your health-care practitioner.
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Graded November 6, 2026 by the Reverse Age Lab evidence engine, from human studies, real reviews and our biohacker panel. How we grade. Is this medical advice? No. Rala organizes the published evidence; go over any change with your doctor, especially if you take meds.
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