Evidence supporting the use of: N-Acetyl Cysteine
For the health condition: Psoriasis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is primarily known as a precursor to glutathione, a key antioxidant in the body. Its use in psoriasis is supported by limited scientific evidence, mainly from small studies and case reports. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by increased oxidative stress and immune dysregulation. NAC, by replenishing intracellular glutathione levels, may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. A small double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2012 (Cimmino et al., 2012, "N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of psoriasis") found that oral NAC supplementation (1,200 mg daily for 8 weeks) led to a reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores in a subset of patients. However, the sample size was small and the improvements were modest. Other case reports have noted improvement in psoriatic lesions with NAC use, but controlled evidence is sparse. No major clinical guidelines recommend NAC as a standard treatment for psoriasis, and large-scale randomized controlled trials are lacking. The mechanism—antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects—provides a plausible rationale, but overall, the evidence is preliminary. Therefore, while there is some scientific interest and limited evidence supporting NAC use in psoriasis, it cannot be considered a well-validated or mainstream intervention for this condition.

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Products containing N-Acetyl Cysteine

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