Guard Liver Health with N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
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By Dr. Allen S. Josephs
Co-Founder & Chairman, Vitacost.com |
12/04/2003 |
A recent medical article gave me pause for thought. The article concerned the painkiller acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) and possible liver damage. It's estimated that Americans take over 8 billion pills of Tylenol every year, making it the most commonly used painkiller in the U.S.
You may know that the recommended maximum adult dose is 4,000 mg a day, which represents two extra-strength Tylenols taken four times during the course of the day. What you may not realize however, is that taking a single dose of 7,000 to 10,000 mg of acetaminophen (the equivalent of 14 to 20 extra-strength Tylenol tablets), can actually cause liver damage in a healthy adult. Smaller amounts, even as little as 3 or 4 grams taken as a single dose, have even been reported to cause severe liver damage in some people, and even death.
The article, "Acetaminophen Induced Hepatotoxicity," discusses the potentially fatal liver damage that occurs when taking relatively small amounts of this medication1. What got me thinking about this is that a nutrient known as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is considered an antidote, and is actually the preferred treatment to prevent this potentially fatal disorder.
NAC works by indirectly replacing an important nutrient in the body called glutathione. N-acetyl cysteine is typically most effective when taken within 12 to 16 hours after the acetaminophen. However, this nutrient may also be effective even when taken later than that.
This month, a research journal published a study about NAC2. In the study, human fibroblasts (cells made up of connective tissue that release proteins) were treated with rays of ultraviolet A and B, along with visible irradiation, which caused DNA damage. The fibroblasts were then exposed to NAC, which significantly reduced overall levels of DNA damage. The researchers felt that NAC may protect cells directly, by eliminating free radicals (highly reactive compounds that interfere with cells' ability to function normally and cause health problems), and increasing glutathione levels.
In an article published last year, a group of smokers participated in a randomized, double-blinded (in which neither the subjects nor the experimenters are aware), placebo-controlled study3. Twenty participants received 1,200 mg daily of NAC for six months, while another 21 individuals received a placebo during that time. Certain cell markers were then studied. It was found that those individuals given NAC had a reduction in certain abnormal-cell-associated biomarkers.
Glutathione is an extremely powerful antioxidant. Due to the nature of its metabolism, it can't be effective when taken orally, but is instead increased by such nutrients as N-acetyl cysteine. Elevated glutathione levels appear to enhance immune function, and help with the elimination of toxins. They also help with protein synthesis (building up chemical compounds), and prostaglandin and DNA synthesis and repair.
Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) offers an excellent N-acetyl cysteine product. Each capsule contains 600 mg of this very important nutrient. The price for this is only about 10 cents per capsule, which is incredibly inexpensive.
1. James LP, Mayeux PR, Hinson JA. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Drug Metab Dispos. 2003 Dec;31(12):1499-506.
2. Morley N, Curnow A, Salter L, Campbell S, Gould D. N-acetyl-L-cysteine prevents DNA damage induced by UVA, UVB and visible radiation in human fibroblasts. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2003 Dec 5;72(1-3):55-60.
3. Van Schooten FJ, Besaratinia A, De Flora S, D'Agostini F, Izzotti A, et al. Effects of oral administration of N-acetyl-L-cysteine: a multi-biomarker study in smokers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002 Feb;11(2):167-75
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