Glycine and NAC significantly reverse measures of aging in older adults

What's the news: Supplementing with glycine and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reduces hallmarks of aging in older adults.

Why should we believe it: This news is based on a study published earlier this year and performed by scientists at Baylor University.

The scientists looked at two groups of people: young adults (age 21-40) and older adults (age 61-80). They further broke down the two groups into a placebo group and a treatment group.

The treatment in this study involved taking 100 mg per kilogram of body weight, each day, of both glycine and NAC supplements. In the older adult group, the results after 16 weeks of supplementation were significant improvements in:

• Bodywide levels of glutathione, the body’s "master antioxidant"

• Weight circumference, body composition, and lowered blood pressure

• Physical performance, as measured by gait speed, muscle strength, and a 6-minute walk test

• "Hallmarks of aging," including mitochondrial function, nutrient sensing, and cellular senescence

Why is this a big deal: The results reported in this study are so big (50%-70% changes in different measures) that I had trouble believing them at first. But the scientists involved are credible, the study seems to check out, and the journal it was published in is well-known and respected. Adding further support, this is far from the only study showing the beneficial effects of glycine and NAC supplementation.

So what specifically can you do now: If you are young or relatively so, there's not much sense in supplementing with glycine or NAC yet, at least according to the present study. In this study, there were few measured improvements in the young adult group after supplementation.

On the other hand, if you're over 60 or getting there, supplementing with glycine and NAC could be the best thing you do in the next few weeks. It could produce huge improvements in your body and your wellbeing — and quick.