Introduction to NAC
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is being investigated for its potential to reduce oxidative stress and slow retinal degeneration in inherited retinal diseases, including Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. A Phase 3 clinical trial is currently evaluating the efficacy of NAC in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), aiming to determine its role in preserving vision by mitigating oxidative damage in photoreceptors. Patients with BBS and RP may find NAC to be a complementary approach to DHA supplementation, offering a multifaceted strategy to address retinal dysfunction and degeneration.
A recent study found high doses of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to bring some benefit to patients. NAC can be taken safely and is currently being studied in a formal trial, whether these effects truly are helpful. More information about the study in the adjacent panel.
NAC – Simple conclusion:
It may be of benefit to take NAC 1800 mg twice daily (once in the morning, once in the evening). In doing so, you mirror a role in the treatment group of this phase 3 clinical trial: https://beta.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05537220?distance=50&term=NAC%20attack&rank=1
Key references:
- NAC Attack – a Phase 3 Trial https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/research/nac-attack
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/research/nac-attack
From the John Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/research/nac-attack
NAC Attack is a Phase III multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral NAC in patients with RP.
Compelling studies have proven that excessive oxidative stress plays a key role in photoreceptor cell death in RP. The effect of NAC treatment on reducing photoreceptor loss has been shown in animal studies.
The safety profile of oral NAC treatment is well known for short term use and was recently demonstrated in 30 patients with RP who received oral NAC for 6 months. A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in a larger population from different places of the world and over a longer time is necessary to determine the long-term safety of NAC and determine whether oral NAC can slow photoreceptor loss and thus delay visual function loss in patients with RP.
