Evidence supporting the use of: N-acetylcysteine
For the health condition: Crohn's Disease

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 1

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has some scientific rationale for its use in Crohn's Disease, but the evidence is limited and of low quality. NAC is a precursor to glutathione, a major intracellular antioxidant, and is known for its anti-inflammatory and mucolytic properties. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key features in Crohn's Disease, suggesting a potential theoretical benefit for NAC supplementation. Some small clinical studies and preclinical (animal and in vitro) research have explored the effects of NAC on intestinal inflammation. For example, a few pilot studies have reported improvements in certain markers of inflammation or mucosal healing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's Disease, when NAC was used as an adjunct to conventional therapy. Additionally, animal studies have shown that NAC may reduce colonic inflammation in experimental models. However, the number of human trials is very limited, and most are small, uncontrolled, or include mixed IBD populations (not Crohn's-specific). There is not enough high-quality, consistent evidence to recommend NAC as a standard therapy for Crohn's Disease. Current clinical guidelines do not include NAC as a treatment for Crohn's. Thus, while there is some scientific investigation and mechanistic plausibility, the level of evidence remains weak (rated 1/5). More robust, well-designed clinical trials are needed to determine efficacy and safety in this context.

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