N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is something I recommend frequently to my patients and I take it myself. 

So, what is NAC?

NAC is a special form of the amino acid cysteine. NAC is the precursor (starting material) for the body to make glutathione (GSH). Glutathione is the most powerful antioxidant in the body. GSH is essential to protect, detoxify and repair body cells. NAC supplements can increase the production of glutathione in the body.

NAC was first patented in 1960 and is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. NAC has a long-established safety record in adults and children; the drug has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration since 1963.

NAC is available as a generic medication and has been used in clinical medicine as a mucolytic agent (clearing up mucus) and for respiratory infections and sinusitis. NAC has been used for lung diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis).

Research has proven that NAC can be used alone, or in combination with antibiotics or herbal antimicrobial agents such as Bactoclear, to eradicate some chronic infections.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) possesses therapeutic effects over a wide range of disorders.

These disorders include acetaminophen poisoning, lung diseases, heavy metal toxicity, and psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Boosting glutathione levels with NAC supplements makes the body’s cells more able to protect themselves from damage caused by fatty accumulation, viral infections, toxic chemicals, drug induced damage, and autoimmune inflammation.

Glutathione restores your cells' ability to detoxify and fight damage from free radicals known as reactive oxygen species. Glutathione helps the liver to protect you against toxicity, and it is most needed by those with liver disease, or those people exposed to heavy metals or toxic chemicals. Today researchers are realizing just how vital glutathione's actions in the body are, and how many chronic disease conditions are associated with glutathione deficiency. According to Stanford University's Dr. Kondala R. Atkuri, "NAC has been used successfully to treat glutathione deficiency in a wide range of infections and metabolic disorders, including HIV infection and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Over two-thirds of 46 placebo-controlled clinical trials with orally administered NAC have indicated beneficial effects of NAC measured either as trial endpoints or as general measures of improvement in quality of life and well-being of the patients.”

Heavy Metal Detox

NAC neutralizes toxins and pollutants including heavy metals that accumulate in the brain, liver, kidneys, and fatty parts of the body.

NAC chelates transition metal ions such as copper (Cu2+) and iron (Fe3+), as well as heavy metal ions such as cadmium (Cd2+), mercury (Hg2+), and lead (Pb2+). NAC does this through its thiol side-chain to produce complexes. This is called chelation and increases the removal of these toxic metal ions from the body.

Health Benefits of NAC

  • Boosts glutathione (GSH) levels in the lungs which reduces inflammation in the lungs and bronchial tubes.
  • Improves the body's detoxification process.
  • Inhibits inflammation in the whole body (systemic inflammation).
  • Exerts antimicrobial and antibacterial properties in many chronic or recurrent infections
  • Improves oral and dental health.
  • Exerts lung, liver, and kidney protective and reparative effects.
  • Can assist with rehabilitation therapy for drug addicted patients.
  • Reduces Acne
  • Helps to dissolve gallstones and kidney stones.
  • Reduces age spots on the skin.
  • Helps to prevent side effects of drugs, drug overdose and environmental toxins. Hospital emergency departments regularly give intravenous (IV) NAC to people with an acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose to prevent kidney and liver damage or failure.

Biofilms and infections

Infections persist and become chronic because microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) make themselves a protective external layer called a biofilm. These microorganisms survive and hide in body cavities and surfaces through the formation of biofilms. The most successful persistent forms of life on earth are considered to be biofilms. Biofilms are microbial communities surrounded by a layer of mucus like material, which makes it hard for the immune system to fight them. Biofilms are resistant to antiviral and antibacterial drugs and to the immune defences of the person infected.

Some viruses form complex biofilm like structures, similar to bacterial biofilms. These biofilm structures protect viruses from the immune system and enable them to spread more easily from cell to cell. Viral biofilms are likely to be a major method of propagation for some viruses.

By removing the viral biofilm from the surface of the infected cells, researchers achieved an 80% reduction in infection rates of the retrovirus HTLV-1.

NAC has been extensively researched for its effectiveness in inhibiting biofilm formation and in destroying developed biofilms. Studies show a role for NAC in the treatment of biofilms, with excellent safety and effectiveness. NAC has shown good properties in combating persistent antibiotic resistant bacterial infections and dissolving the biofilm matrix. NAC has been shown to help the body fight viral infections and inhibited the replication of seasonal human influenza A viruses.

Drug resistant chronic or recurrent infections such as Helicobacter Pylori, sinusitis, middle ear infections, bronchiectasis, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections etc, usually have well developed biofilms. Biofilm protected bacteria can be up to a thousand times more resistant to treatment and the host's own immune defences. Most refractory infections (i.e., unresponsive to medical treatment) are attributable to biofilm colonies. Biofilm may spread into uninfected areas and the cycle repeats thus worsening the infection.

Dental plaque is a form of biofilm and NAC is a therapy used as an antiplaque and bacteriostatic agent for managing chronic dental decay.

Natural substances which can disrupt biofilms include:

  • Berberine
  • Ellagic acid (e.g. from pomegranate)
  • Proteolytic enzymes such as Serrapeptase
  • D Mannose and Cranberry for biofilms in urinary tract infections
  • Oregano
  • Horseradish
  • Garlic and onions
  • NAC which is the most powerful of all especially for old or mature biofilms

NAC is very underutilized as a therapeutic agent in chronic persistent infections which have previously resisted standard antimicrobial treatments.

NAC and Selenium work together

Selenium acts in the body as an antioxidant, which neutralizes toxic substances. Selenium is required for antioxidant enzyme systems in the body to work efficiently and the most important one is glutathione.

When it comes to successfully fighting any viral infection, it is critical that people have adequate amounts of total body selenium.

What are the consequences of selenium deficiency?

  • Increased susceptibility to infections of all types, especially from viruses
  • Incurable warts
  • Increased risk of auto-immune disease and inflammation
  • Higher mortality rates from HIV (AIDS)
  • Higher morbidity rates from chronic viral hepatitis (types B & C)
  • Increased incidence of many different types of cancer

Glutathione and selenium working together are continually protecting your cells.

Absorption of NAC

Considering the poor absorption of dietary or supplemental glutathione (GSH) from the gut, orally administered NAC has been found to be more efficient than oral GSH administration. Oral NAC is as effective as intravenously administered NAC.

Cautions for using NAC

If you are a highly allergic person and produce excess histamine (e.g., anaphylaxis, hives, severe allergic asthma etc), you should talk to your doctor before taking NAC. In high histamine type people, the starting doses of NAC should be low because in some highly allergic people, NAC can exacerbate histamine type allergic reactions.

If you have a peptic ulcer or severe heart burn, talk to your doctor before using NAC. Start with one 600mg capsule to see how you go. If you find benefit, you can gradually increase the dose of NAC to 1 to 2 capsules twice daily.

NAC is best taken in-between meals with a large glass of water as this avoids digestive discomfort caused by it. To avoid any digestive discomfort don’t take NAC just before bedtime.

Some people get excellent benefit from a low dose of one capsule daily while others will need the higher doses. NAC has been used in medicine for 60 years.

For more information email [email protected] or phone my Health Advisory Service on 1 623 334 3232 or in Australia on 02 4655 4666 and speak to a naturopath or doctor.

 

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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