Product Information

Optimal form of Cysteine, precursor to Glutathione. Assists with cancer prevention, lung function. Reduces the toxic effects of tobacco, alcohol and exercise. Is anti catabolic and has potent anti oxidant properties. Powerful immune booster, prevents and reduces the symptoms of flu.

Description:

N-Acetyl-Cysteine is an endogenous form of Cysteine produced from Cysteine within the body and also widely regarded as the preferred form of Cysteine for supplementation.

Health Benefits of N-Acetyl-Cysteine

All of the health benefits associated with regular Cysteine and which are described in the topic for Cysteine are equally applicable to N-Acetyl-Cysteine (in many cases NAC provides greater therapeutic benefits compared to regular Cysteine).

Aging Process & Life Extension

NAC may possess Life Extension potential.

Cardiovascular System

NAC may help to prevent Atherosclerosis (by lowering elevated Lipoprotein (a) levels).
NAC may reverse abnormal Blood Clotting.
NAC may help to prevent and reverse Alcohol-induced Hypertension (by detoxifying Acetaldehyde).

NAC may improve the condition of Sickle-Cell Anaemia patients.
Pre-treatment with NAC may reduce the severity and after-effects of Stroke.

Cells

NAC may inhibit the ability of mutagens to damage Chromosomes.
NAC may improve the function of the Mitochondria.

Digestive System

NAC may reduce the Inflammation associated with Colitis.
NAC may inhibit the ability of Alcohol (ethanol) and Indomethacin to damage the Gastric Mucosa.
NAC may reduce the severity of (acute) Pancreatitis.

NAC (1,800 mg per day) may help to reduce the Vomiting that occurs as a side effect of Chemotherapy.

Ears/Hearing

NAC may be a valuable therapy for Glue Ear patients who have undergone surgery (Myringotomy) for their condition:

NAC (200 mg per day for thirty days following Surgery) may improve Hearing in people who have undergone Myringotomy as a treatment for Glue Ear (although Myringotomy itself improves the Hearing of Glue Ear patients, supplemental oral NAC following Myringotomy may cause greater improvement in Hearing than does the Myringotomy procedure alone).

NAC may help to prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

Excretory System

NAC may be an effective treatment for Kidney Stones (where Kidney Stones are caused by Calcium Oxalate or Cystine accumulation).

Eyes/Vision

NAC may help to prevent Cataracts.

Hair

NAC may help to prevent the progression of Male Pattern Baldness (by functioning as a precursor for Glutathione). Glutathione exerts Antioxidant effects that protect Hair Follicles from Free Radicals damage (inactive Hair Follicles (that occur during the progression of Male Pattern Baldness) tend to be deficient in Glutathione).

Immune System

NAC (1,800 mg per day) may enhance the Immune System in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients and may help to prevent HIV developing into full-blown AIDS:

NAC has been suggested as a viable alternative to Pharmaceutical Protease Inhibitors for the treatment of AIDS as NAC is an effective Protease Inhibitor. NAC may protect the body’s endogenous Protease Inhibitor Protein (Alpha-1 Antitrypsin) by preventing the oxidation of Methionine residues within this Protein.
NAC may help to prevent various types of Cancer:

NAC may exert antimutagenic effects against a wide variety of mutagenic chemicals.
NAC may help to prevent the metastasis of many types of Cancer:
NAC may help to prevent Bladder Cancer.
NAC may help to prevent Breast Cancer.
NAC may help to prevent Colon Cancer.
NAC may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy in the treatment of Liver Cancer.

NAC may help to treat Larynx Cancer.
NAC may help to prevent and treat Lung Cancer.
NAC may help to treat Mouth Cancer.
NAC may inhibit the further progression of Pancreatic Cancer.
NAC may help to prevent Skin Cancer.
NAC may enhance the ability of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) to counteract Cancer.

NAC may inhibit the replication of the Hepatitis B Virus that causes Hepatitis B.
NAC may enhance the effectiveness of Interferon Alpha for the treatment of Hepatitis C (primarily by counteracting the depletion of Glutathione).
NAC (1,200 mg per day) may help to prevent Influenza infection, may reduce the symptoms of existing Influenza infection and may reduce the duration of Influenza infections (especially in elderly and chronically ill people).

NAC may help to prevent Leukoplakia.
NAC may improve the function of White Blood Cells:

NAC (600 mg per day) may enhance the function of Neutrophils (it decreases the production of Superoxide Free Radicals by stimulated Neutrophils and improves the ability of Neutrophils to function as Phagocytes).
NAC may enhance the activity of NK Lymphocytes.
NAC (600 mg per day) may improve the ability of Neutrophils to function as Phagocytes.

NAC may enhance the function of T-Lymphocytes.


Metabolism

NAC is a potent Antioxidant:

NAC quenches Hydroxyl Free Radicals.
NAC quenches Superoxide Free Radicals.
NAC may help to prevent the excessive generation of Free Radicals in persons who
exercise.

NAC may help to prevent the Free Radicals-induced destruction of Beta Cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the Pancreas of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patients.
NAC may help to inhibit the Cross-Linking of the body’s endogenous Proteins and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).
NAC (administered via aerosol spray inhaled) may alleviate the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis.
NAC may help to prevent (diabetic) Neuropathy in Diabetes Mellitus patients:

NAC may help to prevent the Free Radicals-induced destruction of Beta Cells in the Pancreas of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patients.

NAC may counteract the excessive generation of Free Radicals in people who Exercise:

NAC may prevent Exercise-induced destruction of Glutathione (by preventing the oxidation of Glutathione).

NAC may help to prevent (muscular) Fatigue.
NAC may inhibit the replication of the Hepatitis B Virus that causes Hepatitis B.
NAC may help to reduce Insulin Resistance.
NAC may inhibit the oxidation of LDL Cholesterol.

NAC may facilitate the detoxification function of the Liver:

NAC may help to prevent Alcohol-induced Liver damage:

NAC may help to prevent Alcohol-induced Fatty Liver.

Musculoskeletal System

NAC may be useful for the treatment of Cecelia (due to its ability to lower elevated Interleukin 1, Interleukin 6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor levels).
NAC (400 mg per day) may facilitate Muscle Growth (specifically NAC may prevent the catabolism of Muscle Proteins in persons who engage in Isotonic Exercise by preserving Muscle Glutamine levels).

NAC may help to prevent Muscle Weakness.

Nervous System

NAC may help to prevent and reverse Age-Associated Memory Impairment.
NAC may improve some aspects of cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
NAC may be useful for the prevention or treatment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) (due to its Antioxidant properties).

NAC (1,800 mg per day) may help to reduce the Nausea that occurs as a side effect of Chemotherapy.
NAC may help to prevent and reverse Memory impairment.
NAC may help to prevent (diabetic) Neuropathy.

NAC may retard the ability of Tumor Necrosis Factor to inhibit the maturation of Oligodendroglia.
NAC may help to prevent Parkinson’s disease (due to the Antioxidant properties of NAC).
NAC may protect and rejuvenate the Mitochondria of Presynaptic Terminals.

Respiratory System

NAC may help to prevent and treat (chemical-induced) Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
NAC (administered orally or via aerosol inhalation spray) may be useful for the treatment of Asthma.
NAC may inhibit damage to the Bronchial Tubes from Tobacco smoke condensates. It may also loosen and liquefy Mucous in the Bronchial Tubes.

NAC (especially when administered via aerosol inhalation) may alleviate Bronchiectasis.
NAC (500 2,000 mg per day) may alleviate and prevent Bronchitis (by liquefying the Mucous that contributes to Bronchitis) and may suppress the Detrimental Bacteria that reside in the Bronchial Tract of Bronchitis patients.

NAC (1,800 mg per day) may help to break up the thick Mucous that is produced in the Respiratory System of Chronic Obstructory Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.
NAC (1,000 mg per day) may help to loosen the Mucous congestion that occurs during smoker’s Cough.
NAC may help to break down the Mucous produced in Emphysema patients and may also help to prevent Emphysema.

NAC may help to maintain healthy Lung function, may protect the Lungs from Free Radical damage, may liquefy and loosen Mucous in the Lungs and may protect against the development of many ailments of the Lungs.
NAC may help to liquefy and loosen Mucous in the Lungs and the Bronchial Tubes.

NAC may be a useful therapy for the treatment of (allergic) Rhinitis:

NAC (500 2,000 mg per day) may be a useful therapy for the treatment of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis.

Skin

NAC (applied topically) may alleviate Ichthyosis.
NAC may help to reduce Photosensitivity and may therefore be useful for the treatment and prevention of Photosensitivity Disorders.
NAC (applied topically) may help to prevent Wrinkles caused by exposure of the Skin to Ultraviolet Radiation (i.e. it may help to prevent photoaging of the Skin).

N-Acetyl-Cysteine may Enhance the Function of these Substances

Amino Acids

NAC increases intracellular Cysteine levels (this intracellular Cysteine is then incorporated into Glutathione) NAC “reduces” Cystine to form Cysteine.
NAC may prevent the destruction of Glutathione (by preventing the oxidation of Glutathione).

Enzymes

NAC may enhance the activity of Glutathione-S-Transferase.

Immune System Chemicals

NAC may enhance the ability of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) to counteract Cancer.

Nucleic Compounds

NAC may help to protect the body’s endogenous Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) from damage.

Pharmaceutical Drugs

NAC may enhance the effectiveness of exogenous (pharmaceutical) Interferon Alpha in the treatment of Hepatitis C.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine may Inhibit these Potentially Toxic Substances

Alcohols

NAC may reduce the toxicity of Methanol in the Brain.

Aldehydes

NAC binds to Acetaldehyde and may reduce the toxicity of Acetaldehyde.

Amino Acids

NAC may inhibit the excitotoxic effects of Glutamic Acid.

Electromagnetic Radiation

NAC may inhibit the ability of Ultra-Violet Radiation to activate Elastase and may inhibit the ability of UV to damage the body’s Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

NAC may inhibit the ability of UV-A to damage the body’s Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).
NAC may inhibit the ability of UV-B to damage the body’s Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

NAC may protect the body from the toxic effects of exposure to Gamma-Rays.

Enzymes

NAC may inhibit the ability of Ultra-Violet Radiation to activate Elastase.

NAC may lower elevated Interleukin 1 levels.
NAC may lower elevated Interleukin 6 levels.
NAC may retard the ability of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) to inhibit the maturation of Oligodendroglia and may lower elevated TNF levels.

Lipids

NAC may counteract the inflammatory effects of Lipopolysaccharides.
NAC may lower the body’s levels of Lipoprotein (a) (the Lipoprotein that is strongly implicated in Cardiovascular Diseases) by up to 70%.

Micro-organisms

NAC may inhibit the proliferation of Streptococcus pneumonia (especially in the bronchial tissue of smokers with chronic Bronchitis).

Minerals

NAC may facilitate the excretion of Arsenic from the body:

Cases exist where persons affected by chronic Arsenic poisoning have been saved from death when administered NAC upon arrival at hospital.

NAC may counteract the toxic effects of Cadmium.
NAC may counteract the toxic effects of Mercury and may help to remove (chelate) Mercury from the body.

Neurotoxins

NAC may inhibit the ability of MPP+ to damage Neurons.

Peroxides

NAC may deactivate the Free Radicals generated by Hydrogen Peroxide.

Pharmaceutical Drugs

NAC (1,800 mg per day) may help to reduce the Nausea and Vomiting that occur as side effects of Chemotherapy.
NAC may reduce the toxic side effects of Cyclophosphamide (a Pharmaceutical Drug used to treat some cases of Cancer).
NAC may reduce the toxic side effects of Doxorubicin.

NAC may prevent the Liver damage that leads to death after Paracetamol overdose (to be effective NAC must be administered within 12 hours of Paracetamol poisoning (due to NAC stimulating Glutathione production which functions as an Antioxidant and protects the Liver from Paracetamol -induced oxidative damage).
NAC (4,000 8,000 mg per day) may counteract the ability of Ifosfamide to damage the Kidneys and to cause Bladder problems such as Cystitis.

NAC may inhibit the ability of Indomethacin to cause Gastric Ulcers.

Proteins

NAC may inhibit the activation of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-Kappa B) by stimulating the endogenous production of Glutathione.

Recreational Drugs

NAC may reduce the toxic effects of Alcohol (ethanol) (by functioning as a precursor for the endogenous production of Glutathione):

NAC may counteract the lipid peroxidation caused by Alcohol and may restore endogenous Glutathione levels to normal following Alcohol-induced Glutathione depletion.
NAC may inhibit the ability of Alcohol to damage the Gastric Mucosa.
NAC may help to prevent and minimize Hangovers (by facilitating the detoxification of Acetaldehyde, the principal underlying cause of Hangovers; and by restoring Glutathione levels):

NAC may help to prevent and reverse Alcohol-induced Hypertension (by detoxifying Acetaldehyde).
NAC may help to prevent Alcohol-induced Liver damage:

NAC may help to prevent Alcohol-induced Fatty Liver.

NAC may inhibit the carcinogens in Tobacco smoke (thereby helping to prevent forms of Cancer known to be induced by Tobacco Smoking):

NAC (500 2,000 mg per day) may help to prevent Bronchitis in Tobacco smokers.
NAC may help to loosen the Mucous congestion that occurs during smoker’s Cough.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine compared to L-Cysteine (i.e. Cysteine)

NAC is less toxic and more bio chemically stable than Cysteine and is believed to be metabolized and absorbed by the body more efficiently than Cysteine.
NAC is more water-soluble than regular Cysteine.
The primary advantage of the NAC form of Cysteine over L-Cysteine is that NAC is preferentially incorporated into Glutathione, whereas L-Cysteine is often oxidized to Cystine or metabolized to Sulphate or Taurine.

Some experts believe that regular Cysteine may be equally as effective as NAC.

Dosage Recommendations

General Therapeutic Dosage

The general range of NAC supplementation for therapeutic purposes is 200 2,000 mg per day.

Timing

Supplemental NAC should be consumed at the same time as a full meal (in order to minimize any negative effects of NAC).

Immune System

A dosage of as low as 200 mg of NAC per day has benefited many people afflicted with Glue Ear.

Orthomolecular-oriented health professionals often recommend a daily dosage of 1,800 mg per day (taken as three x 600 mg doses) for people who are HIV+.
A daily dosage of 600 mg of NAC is sufficient to stimulate the Immune System in otherwise healthy persons.

A daily dosage of 1,200 mg of NAC has been demonstrated in clinical trials to prevent Influenza infections and to reduce the symptoms of Influenza in people already afflicted with Influenza.

Musculoskeletal System

Clinical trials using NAC in body-builders have demonstrated that a daily dosage of 400 mg inhibits the catabolism of Muscle Protein and may thereby facilitate Muscle Growth.

Toxic Dosage

NAC supplementation is deemed to be safe in dosages of up to 10,000 mg (10 grams) per day.

Combined with Vitamin C

NAC supplements should always be used in conjunction with at least three times the quantity of Vitamin C, otherwise NAC may precipitate in the form of Cysteine in the Kidneys and possibly cause Kidney Stones in some people (e.g. 200 mg NAC should be used with 600 mg Vitamin C).

Bioavailability

NAC is absorbed rapidly following oral administration.
The oral bioavailability of the intact NAC molecule is estimated to be 4% to 10%.
Peak blood levels of NAC occur within one hour of its oral ingestion.
Following its absorption, NAC is rapidly metabolized within the Intestines and the Liver.

The half-life of NAC is approximately 2.15 hours.
NAC permeates the Blood-Brain Barrier.