New evidence
NAC linked to a large rise in progesterone in women with PCOS — but the same meta-analysis found no effect on estradiol, FSH, or butyrate.
This is the first solid meta-analytic evidence tying NAC to progesterone in PCOS, but with only a handful of studies behind it, the finding is intriguing rather than definitive.
A meta-analysis of clinical trials in women with PCOS found that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) raised progesterone levels by a large, statistically significant amount. However, the same analysis showed NAC had no effect on several other hormones (estradiol, FSH) or on butyrate, meaning the benefit appears specific to certain outcomes — and the overall evidence base is still thin.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on N-Acetyl Cysteine for Increased Progesterone Level — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
Efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Meta-Analysis
- 2025-01-14
- Nutrients
- PubMed: 39861414
- DOI: 10.3390/nu17020284
- Full study breakdown →
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