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Influence of N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation on Physical Performance and Laboratory Biomarkers in Adult Males: A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials

Diego Fernández-Lázaro, Carlos Domínguez-Ortega, Natalia Busto, Mirian Santamaría-Peláez, Enrique Roche, Eduardo Gutiérez-Abejón, Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
Nutrients 2023 15(11):2463

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 37299425
PubMed Central
PMC10255663
DOI
10.3390/nu15112463
Funding
The review reported no external funding.
Competing interests
Competing-interest disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full declaration.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review of controlled trials
ModelHuman
Sample16 controlled studies
InterventionNAC supplementation across controlled exercise studies in adult men
DurationVaried
EndpointsPhysical performance; Glutathione; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Muscle biomarkers; Adverse events

What the study showed, in plain terms

Sports-focused systematic review synthesizing controlled trials of NAC in adult men.

Key findings

Many included trials reported improvements in performance, antioxidant capacity or glutathione homeostasis, but evidence for inflammation, hematology and muscle outcomes was inconsistent.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Male-only literature, major protocol heterogeneity and many small studies; review conclusions are more favorable than the earlier quantitative meta-analysis.

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