Condition
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is a mental health condition in which unwanted, intrusive thoughts lead to repetitive behaviors done to ease anxiety. N-acetyl cysteine has the most research, with moderate evidence as an add-on to standard care, while inositol had limited evidence, with small studies finding anxiety symptoms improved. Those inositol studies included just 13 people and focused on panic disorder and binge eating rather than OCD, so the results are early.
Sources: PMID 11262515; PMID 11386498
- Supplements studied
- 5
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 5
- People studied
- 145
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 13 people | ||
| Depression Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 5 studies | 13 people | |||
Studies that measured depression symptoms | ||||||
| OCD Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 13 people | |||
Studies that measured ocd symptoms | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCD Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 31 people | |||
| Sedation | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 31 people | |||
Zinc
- OCD Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCD Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 23 people | |||
Studies that measured ocd symptoms | ||||||
Ashwagandha
- OCD Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCD Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 30 people | |||
N-Acetylcysteine
- OCD Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCD Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 48 people | |||
Studies that measured ocd symptoms | ||||||
Key findings
- Anxiety SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- OCD SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 3 supporting supplements
- N-Acetyl Cysteine2,400–3,000 mg daily in divided doses
- Inositol12–18 g daily in divided doses
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Rasayana drugs in healthy human volunteers
- Effects of Withania somnifera in patients of schizophrenia: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled pilot trial study
- Adjunctive Use of a Standardized Extract of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to Treat Symptom Exacerbation in Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
- Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial
- Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers
- Effects of an Aqueous Extract of Withania somnifera on Strength Training Adaptations and Recovery: The STAR Trial
- Effects of eight-week supplementation of Ashwagandha on cardiorespiratory endurance in elite Indian cyclists
- Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis
- Body Weight Management in Adults Under Chronic Stress Through Treatment With Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults
- Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study
- Efficacy of Withania somnifera on seminal plasma metabolites of infertile males: a proton NMR study at 800 MHz
- Withania somnifera Improves Semen Quality in Stress-Related Male Fertility
- Withania somnifera improves semen quality by regulating reproductive hormone levels and oxidative stress in seminal plasma of infertile males
- Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study
- Comparative evaluation of the effects of Withania somnifera with pentoxifylline on the sperm parameters in idiopathic male infertility: A triple-blind randomised clinical trial
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy ff an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera
- Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974
- Safety and efficacy of Withania somnifera for anxiety and insomnia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Randomized placebo-controlled adjunctive study of an extract of withania somnifera for cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder
- Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions
- Effect of standardized aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy human participants
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males
- Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal. Linn.) in the management of psychogenic erectile dysfunction
- Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
- An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- In vivo effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on the activation of lymphocytes
- Evaluation of the efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
- Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study
- Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study
- A randomized, double blind placebo controlled study of efficacy and tolerability of Withaina somnifera extracts in knee joint pain
- Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera, Dunal) root
- Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal) in improving cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults
- Effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on the development of chemotherapy-induced fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer patients
- The combined therapy with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol reduces the risk of metabolic disease in PCOS overweight patients compared to myo-inositol supplementation alone
- Effects of inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial
- Differential insulin response to myo-inositol administration in obese polycystic ovary syndrome patients
- Inositol administration reduces oxidative stress in erythrocytes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
- Effects of d-chiro-inositol in lean women with the polycystic ovary syndrome
- Insulin sensitiser agents alone and in co-treatment with r-FSH for ovulation induction in PCOS women
- Efficacy of myo-inositol in the treatment of cutaneous disorders in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome
- Metabolic and hormonal effects of myo-inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a double-blind trial
- Myo-inositol administration positively affects hyperinsulinemia and hormonal parameters in overweight patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
- Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Indian Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Effects of myo-inositol supplementation on oocyte's quality in PCOS patients: a double blind trial
- Myo-inositol rather than D-chiro-inositol is able to improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. A prospective, controlled, randomized trial
- Myo-inositol may prevent gestational diabetes in PCOS women
- Inositol for subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Myo-inositol treatment increases serum plasmalogens and decreases small dense LDL, particularly in hyperlipidemic subjects with metabolic syndrome
- One-year effects of myo-inositol supplementation in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome
- A phase I study of myo-inositol for lung cancer chemoprevention
- Treatment of hirsutism with myo-inositol: a prospective clinical study
- Inositol for depressive disorders.
- Double-blind, controlled trial of inositol treatment of depression
- Treatment-resistant bipolar depression: a STEP-BD equipoise randomized effectiveness trial of antidepressant augmentation with lamotrigine, inositol, or risperidone
- Inositol addition does not improve depression in SSRI treatment failures
- Effect of inositol on bulimia nervosa and binge eating
- Inositol Nutritional Supplementation for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- The effect of myoinositol supplementation on insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes
- Dietary supplementation with myo-inositol in women during pregnancy for treating gestational diabetes.
- A phase 2 randomized trial of ELND005, scyllo-inositol, in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease
- Inositol treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, cross-over placebo controlled trial
- Lack of effect of inositol treatment in chronic schizophrenia
- CSF inositol in schizophrenia and high-dose inositol treatment of schizophrenia
- Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorder
- Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder
- Acute inositol does not attenuate m-CPP-induced anxiety, mydriasis and endocrine effects in panic disorder
- Myo-inositol in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Myo-inositol has no beneficial effect on premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Inositol as an add-on treatment for bipolar depression
- Inositol treatment of autism
- Inositol treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Inositol treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Lack of effect of 6 g inositol treatment of post-ECT cognitive function in humans
- The effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Pretreatment with myo-inositol in non polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing multiple follicular stimulation for IVF: a pilot study
- The effects of inositol supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The efficacy and safety of inositol supplementation in preterm infants to prevent retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Safety and tolerability of N-acetylcysteine in cocaine-dependent individuals
- The administration of N-acetylcysteine reduces oxidative stress and regulates glutathione metabolism in the blood cells of workers exposed to lead
- N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates Fatigue Following Repeated-Bouts of Intermittent Exercise: Practical Implications for Tournament Situations
- N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate modulator, in the treatment of trichotillomania: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- New developments in the treatment of COPD: comparing the effects of inhaled corticosteroids and N-acetylcysteine
- Induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contains adhesion-promoting, therapy-sensitive factors
- N-acetylcysteine add-on treatment in refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Effects of N-acetylcysteine on outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Bronchitis Randomized on NAC Cost-Utility Study, BRONCUS): a randomised placebo-controlled trial
- Long-term oral n-acetylcysteine reduces exhaled hydrogen peroxide in stable COPD
- The efficacy of -acetylcysteine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a meta-analysis.
- Effect of Orally Administered N-Acetylcysteine on Chronic Bronchitis: A Meta-analysis.
- A randomized controlled pilot trial of oral N-acetylcysteine in children with autism
- A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of N-Acetylcysteine added to risperidone for treating autistic disorders
- N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibits renal nitrite and nitrate reabsorption in healthy subjects and in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: risk of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability loss by NAC?
- The role of cystine-glutamate exchange in nicotine dependence in rats and humans
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in young marijuana users: an open-label pilot study
- N-Acetylcysteine in depressive symptoms and functionality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of craving in substance use disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis.