Comparison
N-Acetyl Cysteine vs Urolithin A
Side-by-side of N-Acetyl Cysteine and Urolithin A. 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.
N-Acetyl Cysteine
NAC supplement benefits cover glutathione synthesis, liver and antioxidant support, and hangover recovery. Evidence strongest at 1200-2400 mg/day.
Urolithin A
Urolithin A supplement guide: pomegranate-derived metabolite, 500-1000 mg Mitopure dosing, mitophagy and muscle endurance evidence.
Effects at a glance
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
Urolithin A
- •Gut-microbiome-derived metabolite of pomegranate and walnut ellagitannins
- •Roughly 40% of adults are 'urolithin producers' from dietary intake; ~60% are non-producers
- •Ryu 2016 (Nature Medicine) reported lifespan extension in C. elegans and muscle benefits in aged rodents
- •Andreux 2019 first-in-human trial (n=60) established safety and mitochondrial gene-expression upregulation
- •Singh 2022 (n=66, 4 months, 1000 mg/day) reported improved muscle endurance in older adults
- •Most human trial portfolio is Amazentis-funded; independent replication is thin
Side-by-side
| Attribute | N-Acetyl Cysteine | Urolithin A |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | NAC | UA, Mitopure, ellagitannin metabolite |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 5.6 | 17 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 1200 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily, split dosing preferred | daily, morning with food |
| Routes | oral, iv | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 2 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 163.19 | 228.2 |
| Molecular formula | C5H9NO3S | C13H8O4 |
| Mechanism | Deacetylated to cysteine, the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis; also directly scavenges reactive oxygen species and modulates glutamate signaling. | Induces mitophagy via potentiation of PINK1/Parkin signaling, leading to selective degradation of damaged mitochondria. Secondary anti-inflammatory effects via NF-kB modulation. |
| Legal status | OTC in most jurisdictions; restricted periods in US history (FDA reclassified 2022) | OTC dietary supplement (US GRAS 2018; EFSA Novel Food 2021) |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement (US, post-2022); Rx indications also exist (acetaminophen overdose, mucolytic) | OTC supplement (not scheduled) |
| Pregnancy | Used clinically in pregnancy for specific indications; consult clinician | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 616-91-1 | 1143-70-0 |
| PubChem CID | 12035 | 5488186 |
| Wikidata | Q413299 | Q27101321 |
Safety profile
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)
Urolithin A
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- soft stools (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data)
- active chemotherapy (consult oncology)
Interactions
- chemotherapy agents: theoretical interaction with mitochondrial-targeting agents; consult oncologist(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Urolithin A comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. N-Acetyl Cysteine is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
- → If your priority is liver function, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
- → If your priority is muscle hypertrophy, pick Urolithin A.
- → If your priority is mitochondrial function, pick Urolithin A.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (N-Acetyl Cysteine ~5.6 hr vs Urolithin A ~17 hr). Urolithin A reaches steady state faster; N-Acetyl Cysteine is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Urolithin A. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for N-Acetyl Cysteine 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 N-Acetyl Cysteine and Urolithin A?
N-Acetyl Cysteine and Urolithin A differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, N-Acetyl Cysteine or Urolithin A?
N-Acetyl Cysteine half-life is 5.6 hours; Urolithin A half-life is 17 hours.
Can you stack N-Acetyl Cysteine with Urolithin A?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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