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N-acetyl cysteine
Description: N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a modified form of the amino acid cysteine. It is commonly used in hospitals both to help break down mucus and to protect from acetaminophen toxicity.1 In addition, it helps the body to synthesize the antioxidant glutathione.
NAC helps to reduce plasma cell adhesion in Type 2 diabetes patients.2
While NAC does reduce the amount of damage caused to the lungs by cigarette smoking, it does not completely protect them from damage.3
NAC is effective in the treatment of lung damage caused by inhalation of airborne chemicals.4
NAC appears effective in reducing complications related to liver transplants.5 It may also be effective for use in other transplant situations.
The amino acid N-acetyl Cystene (NAC) appears to inhibit HIV replication in a laboratory setting.6 Supplementation appears to slow the decline of immune function in HIV patients. When used with Glutamine, it helps in the production of glutathione, an antioxidant which appears to be helpful in preventing infection in HIV patients.7
The supplement N-acetyl cysteine appears to minimize the severity of influenza infection.8 Subjects taking 600 mg twice daily experience far fewer and less severe symptoms when they became infected with the flu.

Natural Sources: Cysteine is found in protein-rich foods such as meats.

Useful in treatment of: HIV Support, influenza.

Recommended Dosage: 250 to 1000 mg daily.

Contraindications: None.

References:

1Mechanism of action and value of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of early and late acetaminophen poisoning: a critical review. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1998;36(4):277-85
2Reduction of oxidative stress by oral N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment decreases plasma soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentrations in non-obese, non-dyslipidaemic, normotensive, patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetologia 1998 Nov;41(11):1392-6
3Protection against cigarette smoke-induced damage to intact transformed rabbit corneal cells by N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Cell Biol Toxicol 1998 Aug;14(4):253-9
4N-acetylcysteine in experimental and clinical acute lung injury. Am J Med 1991 Sep 30;91(3C):54S-59S
5The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine as a hepatoprotective agent in liver transplantation. Transpl Int 1998;11 Suppl 1:S390-2
6Roederer M, et al. Cytokine-stimulated human immunodeficiency virus replication is inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1990;87:4884–4888.
7Robinson MK, et al. Glutathione deficiency and HIV infection. Lancet 1992;339:1603–1604.
8De Flora S, et al. Attenuation of influenzalike symptomatology and improvement of cell-mediated immunity with long-term N-acetylcysteine treatment. Eur Respir J 1997;10:1535_41.
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