Benefits And Side Effects Of Nac (N-Acetyl Cysteine)

Cysteine can be considered a semi-essential amino acid.

Because your body can make it from other amino acids, such as methionine or serine, it’s considered semi-essential. It is only necessary if the dietary intake of serine and methionine is low.

Cysteine can be found in many high-protein foods such as chicken, turkey, and yogurt.

N-acetyl cysteine is a supplement to cysteine.

For a number of health reasons, it is important to consume adequate cysteine or NAC. This includes replenishing glutathione, the most powerful antioxidant in the body. These amino acids are also beneficial for chronic respiratory conditions, fertility, brain health, and brain health.

Why Do People Take Nac?

Doctors prescribe NAC to treat Acetaminophen excess. It can also be used to break down mucus in those suffering from certain lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis.

Some people supplement their diet with NAC to protect their liver. It is known to prevent neurologic and kidney damage from certain drugs.

NAC may help to prevent colon cancer in some cases of colon polyps. However, more research is required. NAC doesn’t seem to lower the risk of developing lung cancer.

There is mixed evidence regarding whether NAC can be used to treat other conditions like infertility, cystic fibrosis, and liver disease. Further research is required.

No optimal doses of NAC have been established for any condition. The quality and active ingredients of supplements can vary greatly from one maker to the next. It is difficult to determine a standard dose.

Prescription use of NAC is possible with standard doses. They depend on the condition being treated. Ask your doctor for advice.

Benefits Of Nac

The essential ingredient for the powerful antioxidant glutathione

NAC is most valued for its role as an antioxidant.

NAC, along with glutamine and glutamine, is required to make and replenish glutathione.

Glutathione, one of the most vital antioxidants in your body, is a compound that helps neutralize free radicals, which can cause damage to cells and tissues.

It is essential for immune health as well as fighting cellular damage. It may even be beneficial for longevity, according to some researchers.

Its antioxidant properties are beneficial for many other conditions caused by oxidative stresses, including heart disease and infertility.

These findings are based on animal studies, and further research is required.

Supports detoxification to reduce or prevent kidney and liver damage

NAC is an important part of your body’s detoxification process.

It can prevent side effects from drugs and environmental toxicities .

Doctors often give intravenous NAC to patients who have taken too much acetaminophen. This is done to protect the liver and kidneys.

NAC has also been shown to be beneficial for other liver diseasesbecause of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Improves mental health and substance abuse disorder

NAC regulates glutamate levels, which is the most important neurotransmitter of your brain .

Glutamate is essential for brain activity. However, excessive glutamate can lead to brain damage if it’s combined with glutathione depletion.

This could lead to mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

NAC could be beneficial for people suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. Research suggests that NAC may be effective in the treatment of moderate to severe OCD.

A similar animal study found that NAC could reduce schizophrenia-related symptoms such as social withdrawal, apathy, reduced attention spans, and apathy .

NAC supplements may also be used to reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse for people suffering from cocaine addiction .

Preliminary studies also show that NAC may reduce marijuana and nicotine cravings.

These conditions often have few or ineffective treatment options. These conditions may benefit from NAC.

However, these studies are outdated, and further research is required.

Relief from symptoms of asthma

NAC can help relieve symptoms of respiratory problems by acting as an expectorant and antioxidant and loosening the mucus in your lungs.

NAC acts as an antioxidant and helps to replenish glutathione levels in the lungs. It also reduces inflammation in the bronchial tubes, lung tissue, and bronchial tubes.

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), which is a long-term condition that causes oxidative damage to the lung tissue and inflammation, can lead to shortness and even coughing.

NAC supplements can be used to treat COPD symptoms, exacerbations, and lung decline.

Multiple studies showed that NAC 600 mg twice daily significantly improved symptoms and lung function in patients with COPD.

NAC can also be beneficial for people with chronic bronchitis.

Bronchitis is when your bronchial passageways and mucous membranes become inflamed. This can cause your lungs to close off the airways .

NAC can reduce the severity and frequency you wheeze, cough, or suffer from respiratory attacks by thinning your bronchial tubes.

NAC can relieve COPD and bronchitis in addition to alleviating COPD. It may also improve other respiratory conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary dysfunction. NAC can also be used to treat symptoms like nasal or sinus congestion caused by allergies or infections.

Enhances brain health by regulating glutamate levels and replenishing glutathione

Brain health can be improved by NAC’s ability to replenish glutathione levels and regulate brain glutamate.

Glutamate, a neurotransmitter, is involved in many learning, behavior, and memory functions. The antioxidant glutathione helps to reduce brain cell oxidative stress that is associated with aging .

NAC is a natural remedy that helps to regulate glutamate levels, replenish glutathione and improve memory.

Alzheimer’s disease, a neurological disorder, slows down memory and learning. Studies in animals suggest that NAC may slow down the decline of thinking ability in those with Alzheimer’s disease .

Parkinson’s disease is another brain condition. It involves the degeneration of neurotransmitter dopamine-producing cells. This disease is caused by both oxidative damage to cells as well as a decrease in antioxidant ability.

NAC supplements may improve dopamine function as well as symptoms like tremors .

NAC may increase brain health, but more human research is required to draw strong conclusions.

It may improve fertility in both men and women.

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples who are trying to conceive. Male fertility is the major contributing factor in almost half of these cases.

Insufficient antioxidant levels can lead to male infertility. Oxidative stress can lead to cell death and decreased fertility .

NAC has been proven to increase male fertility in some cases.

Varicocele is a condition that can lead to male infertility. It occurs when the veins of the scrotum are enlarged due to free radical damage. The primary treatment is surgery.

One study found that varicocele patients received 600mg of NAC daily for three months. Combining surgery with NAC supplementation resulted in a 22% increase in semen integrity and partner pregnancies.

A study of 468 men suffering from infertility showed that supplementing with 600mg of NAC and 200mcg of iron for 26 weeks improved the quality of their semen .

Researchers suggest that the combined supplement be considered for the treatment of male infertility.

NAC may also improve fertility for women with polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) by stimulating or augmenting the cycle of ovulation.

May stabilize blood sugar through decreasing inflammation in fat cells.

Obesity and high blood sugar can cause inflammation in fat tissue.

This can cause damage to insulin receptors and increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes .

Animal studies have shown that NAC can stabilize blood sugar and reduce inflammation in fat cells, thereby improving insulin resistance .

If your insulin receptors remain healthy and intact, they can remove sugar from the blood properly while keeping levels within the normal range.

To confirm the effects of NAC on blood sugar control, human research is required.

May lower your risk of heart disease by preventing oxidative damage.

Heart disease is often caused by oxidative damage to the heart tissue. This can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and other serious conditions.

NAC may lower your risk of heart disease by decreasing oxidative damage to the tissues in your heart.

It also increases nitric dioxide production. This helps dilate veins and improves blood flow. This speeds up blood flow back to the heart, which can reduce your risk of developing heart disease .

In an older study, NAC was found to decrease the damage caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol (bad) in a test tube.

Increased glutathione levels could improve immunity.

Immune health is also improved by NAC and glutathione.

Studies on some diseases that are associated with NAC deficiency and glutathione deficiency have shown that supplementing with NAC may improve and possibly restore immune function.

This factor is most prevalent in HIV-positive people.

Two studies showed that supplementing with NAC led to a significant improvement in immune function and almost complete recovery of natural killer cells.

A high level of NAC may suppress HIV-1 replication.

In a test tube study, it was found that NAC could prevent the virus from reproducing in immune-compromised patients such as the flu. This could reduce symptoms and the length of the illness .

Similar results were found in older test tubes that linked NAC to cell death and prevented cancer cell replication.

More human studies are required. Talk with your doctor before you start taking NAC for cancer treatment.

Dosage

Cysteine is a small-sized protein that your body can make, so there are no dietary recommendations.

You need sufficient folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 for your body to produce the amino acid cysteine. These nutrients are found in beans, lentils, and spinach as well as bananas, salmon, tuna, and spinach.

Cysteine is found in most protein-rich foods, such as chicken, turkey, and yogurt. However, some people supplement their intake with NAC to increase their cysteine intake.

NAC is not well absorbed by the body as an oral supplement because it has low bioavailability. 600-1,800mg of NAC is the recommended daily intake .

NAC can either be intravenously administered or taken orally as an aerosol spray, liquid, or powder form.

Is It Possible To Get Nac From Food?

NAC is not found in any food.

What Are The Potential Risks?

Even if you are taking supplements, tell your doctor. Your doctor will be able to check for potential interactions or side effects with medication.

Side effects. NAC may cause side effects such as:

• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Skin rash

Risks. Your doctor might recommend that you avoid NAC if you have bleeding or asthma problems. NAC should be stopped 2 weeks prior to any elective surgery.

Before you use NAC supplements, consult your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.

Interactions. Talk to your doctor if you are taking any medications regularly before you begin using NAC supplements. They can interact with Nitroglycerin and blood thinners as well as certain blood pressure medications.

Dietary Supplements are not subject to FDA regulation in the same manner as drugs. These supplements are not subject to FDA review for safety and efficacy before being released on the market.

The Bottom Line

NAC plays many important roles in the health of humans.

It is well-known for its ability to replenish antioxidant glutathione levels and regulates glutamate, an important neurotransmitter. NAC also aids in detoxification.

These functions make NAC supplement a viable treatment option for treating multiple health conditions.

To find out if NAC is beneficial for you, consult your doctor.