{
  "slug": "nac",
  "name": "NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)",
  "alternate_names": [
    "N-Acetylcysteine",
    "N-Acetyl-L-cysteine",
    "Acetylcysteine"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "Glutathione (GSH) precursor — deacetylated to L-cysteine, the rate-limiting substrate for GSH synthesis",
    "Direct free-radical scavenging via the thiol (-SH) group",
    "NRF2 antioxidant-response activation",
    "NF-κB signaling suppression (indirect, via restored GSH)",
    "Mitochondrial GSH pool restoration",
    "Mucolysis — cleaves mucin disulfide bonds (research/pharmacological mechanism)",
    "Glutamatergic modulation via cystine-glutamate antiporter (xCT / System Xc-)"
  ],
  "target": [
    "Intracellular glutathione (GSH) pool",
    "SLC7A11 (xCT / System Xc-)",
    "NRF2 pathway",
    "NF-κB pathway",
    "Mitochondria",
    "Oxidative-stress markers (MDA, etc.)"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "antioxidant / glutathione support",
    "respiratory / mucus-metabolism research",
    "liver / metabolic markers (research context)",
    "male reproductive / sperm-quality markers",
    "PCOS / female reproductive markers (research context)",
    "healthy aging (GlyNAC combination context)"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "IMMUNE",
    "RESP",
    "LIVER",
    "REPRO",
    "MITO",
    "CNS"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "A",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 3,
  "dosage_range": "600-1800 mg/day (educational reference · most consumer products 600 mg/capsule · respiratory/mucus and reproductive RCTs at 600-1200 mg/day · psychiatry research up to 2400 mg/day under medical supervision · best absorbed away from food)",
  "safety_notes": "Generally well tolerated orally at 600-1800 mg/day; GI upset (nausea, diarrhea, bloating) in ~10-15%, worse on empty stomach. Strong sulfur odor. Theoretical interactions: nitroglycerin (enhanced vasodilation/hypotension), activated charcoal (reduced NAC absorption), and additive caution with anticoagulants. Caution in active peptic ulcer; IV-route anaphylactoid reactions do not apply to oral use. No adequate human supplement data in pregnancy/lactation. Consult a healthcare provider. NOT a substitute for prescription NAC in any medical (poisoning/overdose) setting.",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "Dual identity: FDA-approved prescription drug (acetylcysteine as a mucolytic and acetaminophen-overdose antidote, with roots in the 1960s-70s; the branded IV product Acetadote, NDA 021539, was approved in 2004) AND dietary supplement. In July 2020 FDA issued warning letters over illegal NAC hangover/disease claims, citing as the legal basis that NAC had been approved as a drug before DSHEA (1994) — though FDA notes its own pre-2016 NAC approval records are unreliable and conflicting; in 2022-08 FDA announced enforcement discretion, declining to act against dietary supplements solely for containing NAC. Supplement marketed under Structure/Function Claims + mandatory DSHEA disclaimer; permanent status still pending formal rulemaking.",
    "efsa": "No EU-wide harmonized supplement framework and NO EFSA-authorized NAC-specific health claim (Reg 432/2012). Approved as OTC mucolytic / Rx antidote in most member states (Fluimucil, ACC). Supplement status varies by country: Italy ✅ / Germany ✅ / France ⚠️ (often regulated as medicine). Cysteine carries a conditional Article 13.1 hair/nail/skin claim under specific conditions.",
    "anvisa": "Listed in ANVISA permitted constituents for dietary supplements (Suplemento Alimentar) under RDC 239/2018 + IN 28/2018; permitted use as antioxidant / sulfur-amino-acid supplement. Also marketed as a medicine (mucolytic / antidote). Functional claims restricted to ANVISA positive-list wording; requires Portuguese labeling and local regulatory representative."
  },
  "authorized_claims": [],
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/nac/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "longevity-stack",
    "reproductive-health"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "senior-60-plus"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}