Back to search results

NAC Mechanistic Study in Gulf War Veterans

This study is looking at how N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) might help Gulf War Veterans who have Gulf War Illness. Researchers want to see if NAC can reduce chronic oxidative stress (an imbalance that can damage cells) and increase antioxidants in your body and brain. You could be eligible if you are 47 to 70 years old, served in the Gulf War between August 1990 and July 1991, and meet specific criteria for Gulf War Illness. The main goal is to measure your glutathione levels (an important antioxidant) over 8 weeks to see if NAC has an effect. The study aims to enroll 170 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study will compare N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) to a placebo (an inactive substance) in 170 participants. It is designed to understand the mechanisms of how NAC might work.
What's involved
You would receive either N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) or a placebo twice daily. Blood samples and neuroimaging (brain scans) will be used to measure changes over 8 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your glutathione levels will be assessed from the beginning of the study up to 8 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04987775

GWICTIC: NAC Mechanistic Study in Gulf War Veterans

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 47–70InterventionalTreatment
Nova Southeastern University
~170 participants
Updated 2025-07-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:N-Acetyl CysteinePlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
4 of 7 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Assess glutathione levels
Measured over Baseline to 8 weeks

Conditions

Gulf War Syndrome

Explore related trials

Gulf war syndrome

NCT04987775

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 7 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

    Houston, Texasstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Nova Southeastern University

    Fort Lauderdale, Floridastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • VA New Jersey Health Care System War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

    East Orange, New Jerseystudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

    Palo Alto, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Boston University Medical School

    Boston, Massachusettsno site contact published

    Active, not recruiting

  • RTI International

    Durham, North Carolinano site contact published

    Active, not recruiting

  • Weill Cornell Medical College

    New York, New Yorkno site contact published

    Active, not recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Nancy Klimas, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Nova Southeastern Univeristy

Who to contact

Nancy Klimas, MD
[email protected]
9542622855
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

47 to 70 years
Served in the Gulf War Theater for any period between August 1990 and July 1991.
Meets modified Kansas case definition criteria for Gulf War Illness. The modified Kansas definition includes the following:
Able to provide written consent to the study
Agrees to participate in follow-up visits.

Exclusion

Self-report of current treated or untreated major depression with psychotic or melancholic features (as determined by self-report and Hamilton Depression Inventory (Ham-D)), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, delusional disorders, dementias of any type, or a history of central nervous system (CNS) disorders that may affect cognitive function (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's disease), or alcoholism or drug abuse
Severe claustrophobia or serious difficulty being in an MRI scanner or other enclosed space (MRS substudy only)
Presence of ferrous implanted medical devices or metal fragments or objects that are embedded under the skin (MRS substudy only)
Current heavy alcohol or tobacco use (self-report). Alcohol consumption not to exceed approximately 15 drinks per week (with a drink defined as 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits) and tobacco use not to exceed 20 cigarettes (or equivalent) per day.
Chronic active infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) (self-report or antibody titer)
Renal disease (self-report or laboratory results: renal insufficiency with serum creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL)
Liver disease (self-report or laboratory results: hepatic insufficiency (bilirubin \>2.5mg/dL or transaminases \> 3 times the upper limits of normal)
Uncontrolled diabetes (HgbA1c \> 7.5) without adequate medical care. Individuals with HgbA1c \> 7.5 will be reviewed and judged by the PI or delegate; if potential participant has adequate medical care to manage diabetes, enrollment is allowed; otherwise HgbA1c \> 7.5 is exclusionary
Diagnosed vascular disease (including congestive heart failure)
Diagnosed bleeding disorders or use of blood-thinning medications
Receipt of stavudine or didanosine for more than 7 days within 30 days prior to screening
Currently have exclusionary diagnoses that could reasonably explain the symptoms of their fatiguing illness and their severity
Are scheduled for a surgery during the period of study participation or had surgery within 6 weeks prior to screening
Pregnant (women only)
Currently on dialysis
Previous or current receipt of any antiviral medication, such as pegylated interferon, ribavirin, entecavir, tenofovir, or didanosine for more than 7 days within 30 days prior to screening
Participating in another interventional (including social-behavioral therapy) clinical trial of an investigational therapy within 6 weeks prior to consent, or planning to participate in another interventional clinical trial of an investigational therapy during the course of this study
Any herbal medicine within 30 days prior to consent and screening blood draw

What this trial measures

  • Assess glutathione levelsBaseline to 8 weeks

    Change in glutathione levels after NAC supplementation compared to placebo in participants with gulf war illness (GWI)