Synopsis

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

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been studied as an adjunctive therapy in people living with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), primarily due to its role as a precursor to glutathione, a key intracellular antioxidant. HIV infection is associated with oxidative stress and significantly reduced glutathione levels, which can impair immune function and contribute to disease progression. Clinical studies in the 1990s and early 2000s investigated NAC supplementation in HIV-positive individuals, with some trials showing that oral NAC can increase intracellular glutathione, improve certain immune parameters, and reduce markers of oxidative stress. However, these studies were often small, short in duration, and sometimes methodologically limited. Systematic reviews and guidelines do not recommend NAC as standard therapy for AIDS, and its use remains investigational.

The evidence supporting NAC’s use in HIV/AIDS is thus limited, but not absent. It is not a traditional therapy for AIDS, but its scientific rationale is based on its biochemistry and the documented glutathione deficiency in HIV. Current antiretroviral therapies (ART) are the mainstay of treatment. NAC may have a role as a supportive antioxidant, but robust evidence of clinical benefit—such as improved survival or reduced opportunistic infections—is lacking. Thus, the use of NAC in AIDS is supported by scientific rationale and limited clinical data but cannot be considered a validated or standard therapy.

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