How a common supplement helped mice stay healthy on junk food
N-acetylcysteine Protects Mice from High Fat Diet-induced Metabolic Disorders
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
NAC reduced liver fat by 50% without reducing calorie intake
Most people assume fat loss requires eating less, but this supplement worked even when mice ate the same high-fat diet.
Practical Takeaways
Don't start taking NAC for weight loss yet—this was only tested in mice.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
NAC reduced liver fat by 50% without reducing calorie intake
Most people assume fat loss requires eating less, but this supplement worked even when mice ate the same high-fat diet.
Practical Takeaways
Don't start taking NAC for weight loss yet—this was only tested in mice.
Publication
Journal
Pharmaceutical Research
Year
2016
Authors
Yongjie Ma, Mingming Gao, Dexi Liu
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Claims (10)
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) improves liver function, supports cellular detoxification, modulates inflammation in adipose tissue, enhances fat loss, and improves recovery from physical exertion.
N-acetylcysteine serves as a precursor to glutathione, the body's primary intracellular antioxidant and detoxification molecule.
Hepatic glutathione depletion impairs fat metabolism and insulin signaling, leading to inefficient fat processing and blood sugar dysregulation; NAC supplementation restores hepatic glutathione levels, improving liver function and fat metabolism.
N-acetylcysteine upregulates thermogenic genes (UCP3, PGC1α) in adipose tissue, increasing mitochondrial activity and energy expenditure, while reducing hyperinsulinemia and improving glucose clearance.
N-acetylcysteine increases glutathione availability in adipocytes, which reduces oxidative stress, decreases inflammatory signaling, and restores insulin sensitivity, thereby normalizing adipocyte function.