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# L-Cysteine supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for type-2 diabetes
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/cysteine_diabetes_0715120822/
- Published: 2012-07-15T10:21:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:59:20.000Z
- Description: A literature review by S.K. Jain reports that cysteine-rich whey protein improved glucose metabolism in diabetic animals and type 2 patients, and that L-cysteine may upregulate insulin-dependent signaling. Jain says further studies are needed to confirm any clinical benefit.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Sunday July 15, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Eating cysteine -rich foods or taking L-cysteine as a dietary supplement may help diabetes patients to control blood sugar levels, according to a report in the July 11, 2012 issue of Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.

The report by S.K. Jain of LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA, USA says a review of the literature on using low-cost dietary supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for type 2 diabetes indicates that cysteine-rich whey protein improves glucose metabolism in diabetic animals and type diabetic patients.

Also animal studies found supplementation with L-cysteine or molecules with a cysteine moiety improved glucose metabolism.

The author says L-cysteine can upregulate the insulin-dependent signaling cascades of glucose metabolism, but suggests that further studies are needed to confirm whether clinical interventions using L-cysteine as an adjuvant therapy indeed improve glycemia and vascular inflammation seen in the population of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Diabetes, particularly the type 2 diabetes mellitus remains a major public health problem. An estimated 23.5 million American or 10.7 percent of the total population aged 20 or older live with diabetes.

Conventional medicine does not provide a cure for diabetes type 2, but a controlled diet and oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin preparations can be used to help control blood sugar levels. High blood sugar which is seen often in diabetes patients who do not receive treatment can lead to severe medical complications.

L-cysteine is a natural amino acid, which among other things serves as a precursor to an antioxidant called glutathione, which is also available as a dietary supplement. 

Although evidence is not yet sufficient to indicate that L-cysteine supplement indeed helps control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients, this amino acid is non-toxic and patients may give it a try to find out if it helps them.