N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is the acetylated form of L-cysteine that has been used to break up pulmonary and bronchial mucous. It is very efficiently absorbed and has been shown to protect cells directly. NAC is an antioxidant and a free radical-scavenging agent that increases intracellular glutathione at the cellular level. NAC can act as a precursor for glutathione synthesis as well as a stimulator of the cytosolic enzymes involved in glutathione regeneration. NAC has been shown to protect against oxidative stress-induced neuronal death in cultured granule neurons.

NAC is an antioxidant that increases intracellular glutathione at the cellular level. NAC can act as a precursor for glutathione synthesis as well as a stimulator of the cytosolic enzymes involved in glutathione regeneration. NAC is the more efficiently absorbed and used form of the amino acid L-cysteine. L-cysteine plays a role in the sulfation cycle, acting as a sulfur donor16 in phase II detoxification and as a methyl donor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. N-acetyl cysteine also enhances immune function. NAC attenuates the progression of the abnormal retention of lipids within liver cells by decreasing development of oxidative stress and subsequent increases in TNF-alpha.23 In addition, N-acetyl cysteine is used to support bronchial health.