Evidence supporting the use of: Cysteine compounds (unspecified)
For the health condition: Heavy Metal Poisoning

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Cysteine compounds, particularly N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and D-penicillamine, have scientific support for their use in treating certain types of heavy metal poisoning. Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid with a thiol (-SH) group, which can bind (chelate) to heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic, forming complexes that are more easily excreted by the body. NAC, a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione, is used clinically to reduce oxidative stress and enhance detoxification, and has demonstrated efficacy in animal and some human studies for reducing tissue accumulation and toxicity of certain heavy metals. D-penicillamine, a synthetic cysteine derivative, is FDA-approved for the treatment of lead, arsenic, and copper poisoning (e.g., Wilson’s disease) due to its strong metal-chelating properties. However, routine cysteine supplementation for heavy metal poisoning is less common; most clinical protocols use established chelators (like EDTA, DMSA, or DMPS) rather than cysteine itself. The evidence for cysteine derivatives is stronger for specific agents (e.g., D-penicillamine) than for cysteine or NAC broadly, and the quality of evidence varies by metal. Overall, while not the first-line therapy for all heavy metals, the use of cysteine compounds in this context is scientifically grounded, especially for certain metals and specific cysteine-based drugs.

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