Could an antioxidant help treat chronic fatigue? new trial tests NAC
NCT ID NCT04542161
First seen Feb 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 17 times
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tests whether N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, can help people with ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). Researchers will give 95 participants different doses of NAC or a placebo for four weeks, then measure brain glutathione levels and markers of oxidative stress. The goal is to understand if NAC can protect the brain from oxidative damage and potentially lead to new treatments for this condition.
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, New York, 10021, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
What this could lead to
If successful, this trial could point toward a treatment for ME/CFS by showing that NAC restores brain glutathione and reduces oxidative stress.
What could go wrong
This is an early exploratory trial with only 95 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It tests mechanisms, not direct symptom relief, and may fail to show benefit.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.