Loading
N-acetylcysteine is a real medicine for paracetamol overdose and for thinning mucus, and is also sold as an antioxidant supplement. In a large trial it did not prevent second cancers of the head and neck or lung, and in animals it sped up lung cancer growth. Whether it interferes with cancer treatment is unknown, so it is one to discuss with your team.
Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs entry separates the prescription uses of N-acetylcysteine, as the antidote to paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning and as a mucolytic, from its sale as a supplement for liver protection and immunity. For cancer prevention, small studies suggested effects on biomarkers, but a large trial found it did not inhibit the formation of second head and neck or lung tumours. Preliminary studies suggest NAC may reduce some treatment side effects such as liver toxicity, neuropathy, mucositis or poor blood counts, but it did not reduce cisplatin toxicities or oxidative stress, and MSK states it is unclear whether, as an antioxidant, it may alter how well cancer treatment works. In an animal model NAC appeared to accelerate lung cancer growth. MSK's special point for patients: because some cancer treatments kill cells by generating free radicals, high doses of antioxidants could protect cancer cells as well as healthy ones. Side effects are mainly gastrointestinal; NAC adds to the blood-pressure-lowering and headache effects of nitroglycerin.
A precursor of glutathione that replenishes the cell's main antioxidant; that is why it protects the liver after paracetamol overdose, and why it could also protect cancer cells under oxidative attack.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"N-acetylcysteine NAC supplements" OR ABSTRACT:"N-acetylcysteine NAC supplements" OR TITLE:"Acetylcysteine" OR ABSTRACT:"Acetylcysteine") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplements, not a curated reading list.
Shares Vitamin E supplements, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Vitamin E supplements, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine), Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies, Cisplatin and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies, Cisplatin and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Alpha-lipoic acid, Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Every source this page cites, grouped by who published it. Grouping is read from the web address, not assigned by hand.
A source that has moved or gone is reported by the weekly link check. /audit/