Comparison
EGCG vs N-Acetyl Cysteine
Side-by-side of EGCG and N-Acetyl Cysteine. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
EGCG
EGCG supplement guide: 300-600 mg/day green tea catechin for fat loss and cardiovascular markers. Hepatotoxicity risk above 800 mg/day fasted.
N-Acetyl Cysteine
NAC supplement benefits cover glutathione synthesis, liver and antioxidant support, and hangover recovery. Evidence strongest at 1200-2400 mg/day.
Effects at a glance
EGCG
- •Modest fat loss (~1.3 kg over 12 weeks) when combined with caffeine and caloric deficit
- •Small reductions in LDL cholesterol (3-6 mg/dL) and systolic blood pressure (2-3 mmHg)
- •EFSA flags hepatotoxicity risk above 800 mg/day, particularly when taken fasted
- •Bioavailability is 0.1-1.0%; gut microbiome variation drives population-variable response
- •Green tea extract typically combines EGCG with caffeine and L-theanine for additive effects
- •Reduces non-heme iron absorption when co-administered with meals
N-Acetyl Cysteine
- •Replenishes intracellular glutathione by supplying cysteine, the rate-limiting amino acid for synthesis
- •First-line antidote for acetaminophen toxicity, restoring hepatic glutathione before fulminant injury occurs
- •Reduces sputum viscosity in chronic bronchitis and COPD at 600 to 1200 mg/day over months
- •Modest symptom reductions in OCD and trichotillomania at 1200 to 2400 mg/day across small RCTs
- •Mixed evidence for psychiatric adjunct use in bipolar depression and schizophrenia negative symptoms
- •Inhaled forms can trigger bronchospasm in active asthma; oral use is the standard biohacker route
Side-by-side
| Attribute | EGCG | N-Acetyl Cysteine |
|---|---|---|
| Category | natural | supplement |
| Also known as | epigallocatechin gallate, green tea extract | NAC |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 3 | 5.6 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 400 | 1200 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 2 times daily with food | 1 to 3 times daily, split dosing preferred |
| Routes | oral | oral, iv |
| Onset (hr) | 1.5 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 458.37 | 163.19 |
| Molecular formula | C22H18O11 | C5H9NO3S |
| Mechanism | Inhibits catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) to prolong norepinephrine signaling; activates AMPK; scavenges reactive oxygen species via gallate ester; modulates gut microbiome and pancreatic lipase activity. | Deacetylated to cysteine, the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis; also directly scavenges reactive oxygen species and modulates glutamate signaling. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement; warning labels required above 800 mg/day in some EU jurisdictions | OTC in most jurisdictions; restricted periods in US history (FDA reclassified 2022) |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | OTC supplement (US, post-2022); Rx indications also exist (acetaminophen overdose, mucolytic) |
| Pregnancy | Avoid high-dose extracts; moderate green tea consumption appears acceptable | Used clinically in pregnancy for specific indications; consult clinician |
| CAS | 989-51-5 | 616-91-1 |
| PubChem CID | 65064 | 12035 |
| Wikidata | Q307091 | Q413299 |
Safety profile
EGCG
Common side effects
- nausea
- abdominal discomfort
- diarrhea
- jitteriness (with caffeine)
- sleep disruption (with caffeine)
Contraindications
- pregnancy at high-dose extracts
- active liver disease
- iron deficiency anemia (separate dosing)
Interactions
- iron supplements: reduces non-heme iron absorption; separate by 2 to 3 hours(moderate)
- anticoagulants: additive effects at high catechin doses(minor)
- beta-blockers (nadolol): reduced absorption when taken simultaneously(moderate)
- hepatotoxic supplements (high-dose niacin, kava): theoretical additive hepatotoxicity at high EGCG doses(moderate)
- stimulants and caffeine: additive thermogenic and cardiovascular effects(minor)
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Common side effects
- sulfur-like taste or odor
- nausea
- flatulence
- diarrhea
Contraindications
- active asthma attack (inhaled form can trigger bronchospasm)
- known NAC hypersensitivity
Interactions
- nitroglycerin: potentiates vasodilation, risk of hypotension and headache(moderate)
- activated charcoal: reduces NAC absorption when used for acetaminophen overdose(moderate)
- anticoagulants: theoretical additive antiplatelet effect at high doses(minor)
Which Should You Take?
N-Acetyl Cysteine comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. EGCG is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick EGCG.
- → If your priority is cardiovascular health, pick EGCG.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
- → If your priority is liver function, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
Default choice: N-Acetyl Cysteine. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for EGCG only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between EGCG and N-Acetyl Cysteine?
EGCG and N-Acetyl Cysteine differ in category (natural vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, EGCG or N-Acetyl Cysteine?
EGCG half-life is 3 hours; N-Acetyl Cysteine half-life is 5.6 hours.
Can you stack EGCG with N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper