Cysteine is an amino acid. It is a component of proteins that is used by almost every cell in the body. When taken as a supplement, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the usual form. This is transformed by the body into cysteine, which is then transformed into glutathione, a strong antioxidant.
Antioxidants combat free radicals that harm DNA and cell membranes in the body. Researchers believe that free radicals contribute to aging and the emergence of a range of illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.
- NAC aids in the breakdown of mucus in the body and can help avoid negative effects brought on by drug interactions and hazardous substances.
- It appears to help treat several respiratory disorders, including bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
10 health benefits of NAC
- Acetaminophen poisoning
- To help avoid or reduce liver and kidney damage, doctors frequently administer intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to a person with an acetaminophen overdose.
- Acetaminophen toxicity can occur at lower dosages if someone regularly consumes alcohol or uses drugs or if the liver is already compromised.
- Acetaminophen poisoning, a medical emergency, can result from an unintentional overdose. Get immediate medical attention if a person takes too much acetaminophen.
- Angina
- NAC and nitroglycerin are medications that dilate blood vessels and enhance blood flow.
- Reports from clinical trials on participants with persistent chest pain suggest that NAC and nitroglycerin are more efficient than either medication alone to lower the risk of death, heart attacks, and chest discomfort. However, the mixture might result in a throbbing headache in some cases.
- Autism
- According to a double-blind trial, NAC supplementation for 12 weeks reduced the symptoms of irritability in children with autism. The trial employed 900 mg of NAC daily for four weeks, then 900 mg two times daily for four weeks, and finally, 900 mg three times daily for four weeks.
- Another double-blind trial reported that taking lower doses of NAC (600 mg) daily for kids under 44 pounds and 900 mg for kids weighing 44 pounds or more improved irritability.
- Double-blind research suggested that giving children with autism NAC for 12 weeks at an average dose of about 18 mg per pound of body weight had no positive effects.
- The use of NAC as a treatment for children with autism should be closely supervised by a physician. In these studies, very high doses of NAC were employed, and there is a lack of research into the long-term safety of this therapy.
- Chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- A review of clinical evidence indicates that NAC may help treat the signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis and stop flare-ups. However, not all studies agree.
- A substantial, meticulously designed study found no reduction in flare-ups.
- In a different research, NAC reduced the number of flare-ups in patients with moderate to severe COPD by about 40 percent when combined with other treatments.
- HIV/AIDS
- Researchers have tried to examine whether cysteine can increase glutathione levels in those with HIV or AIDS. According to a well-designed study, people with HIV who took daily supplements, such as the amino acid glutamine (40 grams per day), vitamin C (800 mg), vitamin E (500 International Units or IU), beta-carotene (27,000 IU), selenium (280 mcg), and NAC (2400 mg), gained more weight after 12 weeks than those who took a placebo.
- In a smaller-scale clinical trial, NAC did raise glutathione levels compared to a placebo in HIV-positive patients. Another research has reported unfavorable outcomes. To determine whether NAC has any advantages for HIV-positive individuals, more study is required.
- Gastritis
- Many amino acids can treat gastritis. In a double-blind trial, persons with bleeding gastritis brought on by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin) benefited significantly by taking 200 mg of cysteine four times a day.
- Cysteine contains sulfur and promotes the recovery of gastritis. NAC was administered to patients with atrophic gastritis for four weeks at a dose of one to four grams per day, and the results of the pilot experiment suggested that it may speed up recovery.
- Heart attack
- In one study, people who had experienced a heart attack had less tissue damage after receiving NAC injections. It is unknown whether oral NAC would have the same effect.
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- In a study with 155 participants with idiopathic interstitial pulmonary fibrosis randomized to NAC (600 mg three times daily) or placebo. Those who received NAC had lower deterioration in lung function over one year, which was measured using vital capacity and single-breath carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- NAC may alleviate insulin resistance. In a double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, 1,200 mg of NAC or placebo was added to the Clomid (clomiphene) regimen in women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome and clomiphene-resistant infertility.
- In the group receiving NAC, clinically and statistically significant increases in both ovulation and pregnancy occurred. These outcomes were confirmed in a subsequent trial.
- Influenza
- In a population of frail older persons, who took part in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study over six months, NAC significantly reduced influenza sickness compared to a placebo.
- Before and throughout the 1991 to 1992 flu season, 262 participants were randomly assigned to receive either 600 mg, two times daily NAC, or a placebo.
- Despite identical rates of seroconversion in the A/H1N1 Singapore 6/86 virus in both groups, people who took NAC had a significantly lower chance of developing a clinical case of influenza (29 percent of the NAC group compared to 51 percent of the placebo group; P =.0006).
- Furthermore, clinical influenza sickness bouts were typically substantially less severe in those receiving NAC treatment. Overall, in the NAC group, cell-mediated immunity improved but immunity in the placebo group remained constant.
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References
Image Source: iStock image
N-Acetylcysteine: Multiple Clinical Applications. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2009/0801/p265.html
N-Acetyl Cysteine (Nac) - Uses, Side Effects, and More. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1018/n-acetyl-cysteine-nac
N-Acetyl Cysteine. https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-2888006
Cysteine. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/cysteine
What is N-acetylcysteine? https://www.poison.org/articles/what-is-n-acetylcysteine
N-Acetylcysteine: Multiple Clinical Applications. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2009/0801/p265.html
N-Acetyl Cysteine (Nac) - Uses, Side Effects, and More. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1018/n-acetyl-cysteine-nac
N-Acetyl Cysteine. https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-2888006
Cysteine. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/cysteine
What is N-acetylcysteine? https://www.poison.org/articles/what-is-n-acetylcysteine
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