L-cysteine
Scientific names: 2-Amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid
Alternative names: 2-Amino-3-mercaptopropionic Acid, 2-Amino-3-sulfanylpropanoic Acid, Chlorhydrate de Cystéine, Cys, Cysteine, Cystéine, Cysteine Hydrochloride, Cystine, Hydrochlorure de Cystéine, L-Cys, L-Cystéine, L-Cysteine HCl, L-Cystéine HCl, L-Cystine
Actions: General, Anti-alcohol, Anti-cancer, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-obesity, Antioxidant, Neurological
Background
L-cysteine is a type of amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins. The body makes L-cysteine from another amino acid called methionine.
L-cysteine is naturally found in foods, but because it's made in the body it doesn't need to be consumed in the diet. L-cysteine has antioxidant effects and is used to make up antioxidants such as glutathione.
People sometimes use L-cysteine for cancer, diabetes, hangover, stroke, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse L-cysteine with N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). These are not the same.
L-cysteine is naturally found in foods, but because it's made in the body it doesn't need to be consumed in the diet. L-cysteine has antioxidant effects and is used to make up antioxidants such as glutathione.
People sometimes use L-cysteine for cancer, diabetes, hangover, stroke, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse L-cysteine with N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: L-cysteine is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if L-cysteine is safe when used in larger amounts as medicine or what the side effects might be.
Surgery: L-cysteine might interfere with blood sugar control during surgery. Stop taking L-cysteine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: L-cysteine is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if L-cysteine is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine while pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Surgery: L-cysteine might interfere with blood sugar control during surgery. Stop taking L-cysteine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using L-cysteine for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
L-cysteine is naturally found in foods. But as medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of L-cysteine might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-cysteine might lower blood sugar levels. Taking L-cysteine along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: L-cysteine might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
View all products
Per 4 g:
- Cysteine hydrochloride 181 mg equiv. cysteine 125 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 200 mg
- L-glutamine 750 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 150 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 85 mg
- Taurine 500 mg
- L-methionine 125 mg
- L-glycine 500 mg
- Choline bitartrate 250 mg
- Inositol 200 mg
- Potassium sulphate 150 mg equiv. potassium 67 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Cysteine hydrochloride 65 mg equiv. cysteine 50 mg
- L-methionine 100 mg
- Curcumin (Turmeric) equiv. curcuminoids 9 mg
- Choline bitartrate 200 mg
- Inositol 150 mg
- Glutamine 100 mg
- Magnesium citrate 370.4 mg equiv. magnesium 60 mg
- Taurine 100 mg
- Potassium sulphate 60.2 mg equiv. potassium 27 mg
- L-glycine 100 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 16 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
- Selenomethionine 124 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 5.41 mg equiv. pyridoxine 3.45 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 50 μg equiv. folinic acid 46.3 μg
- Molybdenum trioxide 37.5 μg equiv. molybdenum 25 μg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. manganese 2.5 mg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 50 μg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 5 mg equiv. riboflavin 3.8 mg
- Tocotrienols complex - palm (Vitamin E) 1 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Cysteine hydrochloride 29 mg equiv. cysteine 20 mg
- L-glutamine 100 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 20 mg
- Selenomethionine 124 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 85.7 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 75 mg
- L-glycine 150 mg
- Taurine 200 mg
- L-methionine 100 mg
- Choline bitartrate 200 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- L-ornithine monohydrochloride 10 mg equiv. ornithine 7.84 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 30 mg
- Molybdenum trioxide 60 μg equiv. molybdenum 40 μg
- Copper gluconate 42.86 μg equiv. copper 6 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 7.84 mg equiv. pyridoxine 5 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 69.44 μg equiv. folinic acid 50 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 50 μg
- Glutathione 20 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 250 μg equiv. manganese 25 μg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 21.74 mg equiv. cysteine 15 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 50 mg equiv. thiamine 44.6 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 220 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 48.62 mg equiv. pyridoxine 40 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 27.4 mg equiv. riboflavin 20 mg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 500 μg
- Selenomethionine 65 μg equiv. selenium 26 μg
- Retinol acetate 884 μg equiv. vitamin A 750 μg RE
- Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3) 5 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 100 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 91.6 mg equiv. calcium 8.4 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 278 μg equiv. folinic acid 200 μg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 216 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 200 μg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 121.7 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 100 mg equiv. calcium 11.44 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 28 mg equiv. vitamin E 34 IU
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 13.5 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 10 mg
- Biotin 150 μg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 6 mg
- Choline bitartrate 40 mg
- L-glutamine 40 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 5 mg
- Inositol 25 mg
- Lecithin 15 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 10 mg
- Taurine 85 mg
- Chromium nicotinate 205 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Potassium iodide (Iodine) 41 μg equiv. iodine 31 μg equiv. potassium 9.6 μg
- Magnesium phosphate pentahydrate 50 mg equiv. magnesium 10 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 250 μg equiv. manganese 50 μg
- Potassium phosphate dibasic 31.82 mg equiv. potassium 14 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 72 mg equiv. zinc 14.4 mg
- Molybdenum trioxide 75 μg equiv. molybdenum 50 μg
- Rosa canina ext. 10 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 10 mg equiv. pyridoxine 6.38 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 5 mg
- Lysine hydrochloride 35 mg equiv. lysine 27.45 mg
- Copper gluconate 43 μg equiv. copper 6 μg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 10.5 mg equiv. cysteine 7.25 mg
- Chromium chloride hexahydrate 821 μg equiv. chromium 160 μg
- Chromium picolinate 121 μg equiv. chromium 15 μg
- Alpha lipoic acid 33.5 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 10 mg
- Glutamine 10 mg
- Glycine 10 mg
- Cinnamomum verum ext. 75 mg
- Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 25 mg
- Momordica charantia ext. 100 mg
Practitioner product
Per 10 g (Pineapple):
- L-cysteine 200 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 29 mg
- L-glutamine 1 g
- Citrus pectin 500 mg
- Larix occidentalis (arabinogalactan) (Larch) 2 g
- Ulmus rubra powder 500 mg
- Glycyrrhiza glabra deglycyrrhizinised ext. 238 mg
- L-glycine 500 mg
- Althaea officinalis ext. 75 mg
- Selenomethionine 125 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Zinc bisglycinate (Zinc amino acid chelate) 40 mg equiv. zinc 8 mg
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per 19 g (Vanilla):
- L-cysteine 50 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 86 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 208 mg
- Larix occidentalis (arabinogalactan) (Larch) 1 g
- L-glutamine 1.5 g
- Taurine 350 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 250 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 55 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 31.92 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 32 mg equiv. vitamin E 25 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 50 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 25 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 14 mg equiv. riboflavin 10 mg
- Dunaliella salina cell powder (Green micro-algae) 108 mg equiv. beta-carotene 2.7 mg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 200 μg
- Selenomethionine 186 μg equiv. selenium 75 μg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 150 mg
- Magnesium bisglycinate 1 g equiv. magnesium 100 mg
- Zinc bisglycinate (Zinc amino acid chelate) 75 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 50 mg
- Reynoutria japonica ext. 50 mg
- Vitis vinifera ext. 4.167 mg
- Ginkgo biloba ext. 6 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 30 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus ext. 1 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 120 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 11.43 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 50 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 100 mg
- Selenomethionine 125 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A) 3 mg
- Glycine 50 mg
- Glutamine 50 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 82.64 mg equiv. vitamin E 100 IU
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 5 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 15.58 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
Practitioner product
Per 7 g:
- L-cysteine 50 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 643 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 100 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 500 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 200 mg
- Cynara scolymus ext. 800 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 883 mg
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder 100 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext. 50 mg
- Coriandrum sativum powder 50 mg
- Galium aparine ext. 160 mg
- L-glutamine 800 mg
- Trimethylglycine (TMG) 300 mg
- Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) 100 mg
- Calcium D-glucarate 100 mg
- Taurine 60 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 80 mg
- Magnesium citrate 8 mg
- Zinc citrate 5 mg
- R-alpha lipoic acid 25 mg
- Apple pectin 320 mg
- Natural lemon lime flavour
- Xylitol
- Glycine
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Citric acid anhydrous
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Cysteine hydrochloride 11 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 799 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 660 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 18 mg
- Nicotinamide ascorbate (Vitamin C) 25 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 139 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 123 mg
- Magnesium ascorbate monohydrate (Vitamin C) 55 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 49 mg
- Potassium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 22 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 17 mg equiv. potassium 3.77 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 11 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 799 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 660 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 151 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 25 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 138 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 123 mg
- Potassium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 22 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 17 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 18 mg
- Magnesium ascorbate monohydrate (Vitamin C) 55 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 49 mg
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Per 1.35 g (Orange):
- L-cysteine 6.8 mg
- Calcium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 518 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 425.6 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 16.7 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 397 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 148.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 131.2 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 100 mg
- Magnesium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 71 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 63.7 mg
- Potassium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 25.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 18 mg
Practitioner product
Per serve (Orange):
- Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 2 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 10 mg equiv. thiamine 8.92 mg
- Riboflavin sodium phosphate (Vitamin B2) 4 mg equiv. riboflavin 2.92 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 7 mg equiv. nicotinic acid 4 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 4.11 mg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 20 μg
- Cholecalciferol 1 μg equiv. vitamin D3 40 IU
- Retinol acetate (Vitamin A) 70.80 mg equiv. vitamin A 200 IU equiv. retinol 60 μg
- Agrimonia eupatoria ext. 1.25 mg
- Dexpanthenol 10 mg
- Potassium aspartate 3.81 mg equiv. potassium 800 μg
- Glutamine 2 mg
- Calcium gluconate monohydrate 4 mg equiv. calcium 357 μg
- Arctium lappa ext. 1.25 mg
- Magnesium aspartate dihydrate 4.58 mg equiv. magnesium 344 μg
- Grindelia camporum ext. 1.25 mg
- Lysine hydrochloride 150 mg
- Manganese sulphate monohydrate 1 mg equiv. manganese 325 μg
- Humulus lupulus ext. 1.25 mg
- Ferrous sulphate 5 μg equiv. iron 1.6 μg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 20 mg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 124 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 100 μg
- Thymus vulgaris ext. 1.25 mg
- Trifolium pratense ext. 1.25 mg
- Cupric sulfate pentahydrate 5 μg equiv. copper 1.30 μg
- Euphorbia hirta ext. 1.25 mg
- Marrubium vulgare ext. 1.25 mg
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate 1 mg equiv. zinc 364 μg
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Per serve (Orange):
- Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 2 mg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 20 μg
- Riboflavin sodium phosphate (Vitamin B2) 4 mg equiv. riboflavin 2.92 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 20 μg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 7 mg equiv. nicotinic acid 4 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 4.11 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 10 mg equiv. thiamine 8.92 mg
- Dexpanthenol 10 mg
- Retinol acetate (Vitamin A) 70.80 mg equiv. vitamin A 200 IU equiv. retinol 60 μg
- Cholecalciferol 1 μg equiv. vitamin D3 40 IU
- Grindelia camporum ext. 1.25 mg
- Magnesium aspartate dihydrate 4.58 mg equiv. magnesium 344 μg
- Arctium lappa ext. 1.25 mg
- Humulus lupulus ext. 1.25 mg
- Euphorbia hirta ext. 1.25 mg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 124 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 100 μg
- Glutamine 2 mg
- Cupric sulfate pentahydrate 5 μg equiv. copper 1.30 μg
- Ferrous sulphate 5 μg equiv. iron 1.60 μg
- Potassium aspartate 3.81 mg equiv. potassium 800 μg
- Calcium gluconate monohydrate 4 mg equiv. calcium 357 μg
- Thymus vulgaris ext. 1.25 mg
- Agrimonia eupatoria ext. 1.25 mg
- Manganese sulphate monohydrate 1 mg equiv. manganese 325 μg
- Trifolium pratense ext. 1.25 mg
- Lysine hydrochloride 150 mg
- Marrubium vulgare ext. 1.25 mg
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate 1 mg equiv. zinc 364 μg
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Per 10 g (Berry):
- Cysteine hydrochloride
- Beta vulgaris powder
- Lithothamnion tophiforme (Red algae)
- Phyllanthus emblica
- Glycine
- Curry leaf extract
- Psidium guajava (Guava)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Ocimum tenuiflorum
- Bixa orellana
- Soy lecithin
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Adansonia digitata (Baobab)
- Choline bitartrate
- Rosa canina powder
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Amaranth powder
- Millet (sprout)
- Quinoa powder
- Larix spp.
- Coconut water powder
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Inositol
- Natural blackcurrant flavour
- Mushroom powder
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Thaumatin
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain)
- Magnesium phosphate tribasic
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Sodium molybdate
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Natural raspberry flavour
- Natural cranberry flavour
- Chlorella vulgaris powder
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Fagopyrum esculentum powder
- Salvia hispanica (seed) powder
Practitioner product
Per 30 g (Passionfruit):
- L-cysteine
- Hydrolysed pea protein
- L-alanine
- Glycine
- L-valine
- L-leucine
- L-isoleucine
- L-proline
- L-phenylalanine
- L-tyrosine
- L-serine
- L-threonine
- L-methionine
- L-arginine
- L-histidine
- L-lysine
- L-aspartic acid
- L-glutamic acid
- L-tryptophan
- Natural flavours
- Cichorium intybus (root) (Chicory)
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Coconut water powder
- Medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
- Potassium citrate
- Magnesium citrate
- Sodium chloride (Salt)
- Calcium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Thaumatin
- Beta-carotene
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
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Per 2.5 g serve (Pineapple):
- L-cysteine
- Green banana
- Larix occidentalis (arabinogalactan) (Larch)
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Althaea officinalis (root)
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Magnesium glycinate
- Zinc citrate
- Pectin
- Ulmus rubra (bark)
- Cholecalciferol
- Bifidobacterium breve
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Citric acid
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Natural tropical flavour
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
