Tier 2 — strong

N-acetylcysteine enhances muscle cysteine and glutathione availability and attenuates fatigue during prolonged exercise in endurance-trained individuals

I Medved, M J Brown, A R Bjorksten, K T Murphy, A C Petersen, S Sostaric, X Gong, M J McKenna
J Appl Physiol (1985) 2004 97(4):1477-1485

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 15194675
DOI
10.1152/japplphysiol.00371.2004
Funding
Funding disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full funding statement.
Competing interests
Competing-interest disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full declaration.

Study snapshot

DesignPlacebo-controlled crossover infusion study
ModelHuman
Sample8 endurance-trained men
InterventionIntravenous NAC during prolonged cycling
DurationAcute exercise experiment
EndpointsTime to fatigue; Muscle cysteine; Glutathione availability

What the study showed, in plain terms

Mechanistic exercise study linking NAC delivery to muscle thiol availability and fatigue resistance.

Key findings

Intravenous NAC increased muscle cysteine/glutathione availability and extended time to fatigue during prolonged exercise.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Intravenous administration, tiny sample and acute protocol are not directly comparable with oral supplement use.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology