Helps With Detoxification To Reduce Kidney And Liver Damage
NAC is used frequently in hospital settings. For example, when a patient comes in with an acetaminophen overdose the standard protocol is to use intravenous NAC to protect the liver and help the body excrete the toxins from the overdose. It does this by replenishing levels of glutathione which is one of the bodys most important antioxidants.
The liver stores glutathione. Think of it like the sawdust that absorbs an oil or gas spill in the garage. Its super handy and then its easily swept up and disposed of after it absorbs the oil or gas. In this case, glutathione is absorbing the toxic aftershock of the acetaminophen overdose. If large doses of acetaminophen were taken the glutathione in the liver may run out and the body doesnt have enough to detoxify the bad stuff the acetaminophen the body is producing.
NAC is a glutathione precursor meaning it helps the body replenish glutathione which helps the body restore its depleted levels. Dont take my word for it as a double-blind, placebo-control study showed a 28% reduction in mortality when IV NAC was administered after an acetaminophen overdose.
Nac Used In Every Hospital
Due to its unique properties and numerous benefits, NAC is used in both conventional and alternative medicine. Every hospital emergency room stocks it as an antidote for acetaminophen poisoning. Large doses of acetaminophen, or chronic use at lower dosages, can destroy the livers ability to make glutathione, resulting in liver failure and death. NAC restores normal liver levels of glutathione and helps to heal the liver damage caused by acetaminophen. Its also used in conventional medicine to break down large amounts of mucus, a common symptom of conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
Just as NAC protects the liver, it also protects the kidneys, which play a key role in detoxification and blood pressure regulation. Doctors use a chemical called a contrast agent to make the kidneys more visible when taking medical images of patients. However, this chemical is hard on the kidneys and can result in contrast-induced nephropathy, which sometimes can lead to kidney failure. NAC has been found to reduce kidney-related toxicity from contrast agent, and its also used to prevent kidney failure in some patients with chronic kidney impairment.
Does Nac Affect Sleep
Theres good news around NAC and sleep. Experts have found that high levels of glutathione in the body may help you sleep better. In one study, it was found that those who had increased levels of glutathione were able to fall asleep easier at night and wake up refreshed in the morning. Moreover, it was found that the body is able to naturally produce more glutathione during sleep. N-Acetyl-Cysteine helps to replenish intracellular glutathione therefore it may help support both a longer and more restful sleep.
For those with sleep apnea, there have been a few specific studies supporting NAC. From one of those studies if you have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome taking oral NAC appears to have therapeutic potential. The study also proposed that long-term treatment with NAC in patients with OSAS may reduce their dependency on continuous positive airway pressure therapy otherwise known as CPAP machines. If youve ever been hooked up to a CPAP machine and I have if there were a way to get off of it Id do pretty much anything.
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Potential Benefits Of N
Note that in the list below, acetaminophen toxicity is the only FDA-approved use of NAC. If you suspect that you or someone you know has overdosed on acetaminophen, Do not attempt to self-administer NAC.
If you want to incorporate NAC into your daily health routine, talk to your doctor first. They can help you identify any unexpected interactions with your existing medical prescriptions and other health strategies.
Though the preliminary evidence for many of these potential benefits is promising, no usage of NAC is FDA-approved except for treatment of acetaminophen toxicity.
The Antioxidant Benefits Of Nac And Glutathione May Improve Immune Function
Antioxidants are our bodys best friend. They help neutralize free radicals that can damage tissues and cells in your body. Antioxidants are also essential for immune health and fighting cellular damage. Glutathione is one of the bodys most important antioxidants. Its antioxidant properties may help combat oxidative stress from ailments such as infertility, heart disease, and some psychiatric conditions. Some researchers have come to the conclusion that glutathione even contributes to longevity.
You can help your body make and replenish glutathione stores by eating foods such as spinach, avocados, asparagus, and okra. If your body needs an extra boost you can help it replenish glutathione by taking N Acetyl Cysteine . Taking two other amino acids, glutamine, and glycine may also help. Some manufacturers such as Pure Encapsulations have formulated popular supplements like NAC plus Glycine Powder to help specifically with glutathione replenishment.
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Helps Relive Respiratory Symptoms
NAC is a natural mucus sledgehammer and by acting as an antioxidant NAC can reduce expectorant and loosen mucus in your airways which can reduce symptoms of respiratory conditions. N-Acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione levels in your lungs which helps to reduce inflammation in your lung tissue and bronchial tubes.
People with COPD have long recognized NAC as an effective way to improve COPD symptoms and lung decline as evidenced in a one-year study. Participants in the study took 600mg of NAC twice and day and the result was significantly improved lung function in those with stable COPD.
People affected by chronic bronchitis may also benefit from NAC. Bronchitis occurs when the mucous membranes in your lungs bronchial passageways become inflamed, swell and shut off airways to your lungs. NAC may help thin the mucus in your bronchial tubes. It will also boost glutathione levels which can decrease the severity and frequency of wheezing, respiratory attacks, and coughing that are a part of bronchitis.
In addition to relieving COPD and bronchitis, NAC may improve other lung and respiratory tract conditions like cystic fibrosis, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. It may also relieve symptoms of nasal and sinus congestion due to allergies or infections.
Reduces The Side Effects Of Chemotherapy And X
NAC hasbeen used to prevent ear damage caused by chemotherapy with the drug,Cisplatin. Administering NAC as an injection to the ear prior to thechemotherapy protected the ear from damage from the drug.
Inflammationsand mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy was reduced with NAC infusions. OralNAC could prevent the occurrence of side effects of chemotherapy to the brain.Intravenous injections of NAC could prevent kidney damage caused bychemotherapy.
NAC when used in combination with other antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta carotene, and lipoic acid, has been used to prevent the side-effects of x-ray radiation.
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Supplements For Nasal Congestion And Sinusitis
There are several herbal supplements that may help with sinus problems:
- Eyebright can alleviate a number of symptoms associated with sinusitis, including nasal, sinus, and eye congestion inflamed eyelids coughs and hoarseness.3
- Stinging nettle is often used to treat allergies or hay fever, which may trigger sinusitis attacks.4
- Echinacea purpurea is perhaps the best known of the various supplements for treating sinus and nasal problems. It helps stimulates the bodys natural defenses to help fight off bacterial infections such as sinusitis.5
Although antibiotics may provide short-term relief, they may prove ineffective over the long term. Furthermore, sinus surgery can be expensive and may not fix the problem. Nutritional supplements geared toward helping patients build up their bodys own immunity to infection will provide the most benefit for long-term relief from sinus infections.
Dee Cee Laboratories Inc. offers PHYTOFED-DF, which aims to relieve nasal and sinus congestion due to colds or hay fever without causing drowsiness.*
A Sinus Sufferers Guide To Supplements
April 20, 2020
Spring has sprung, be it a little belated in the north where were located, which means peoples allergies are in full bloom. Does this time of year bring a stuffy or runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, a pounding headache, sinus pressure, and an inability to go outside without sneezing? This year, instead of reaching for the Claritin, Benadryl, or Zyrtec consider one of these more natural approaches to relieving your allergy symptoms.
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Jarrow Formulas Nac Sustain
Jarrow Formulas delivers a standard 600 mg dose of NAC, but what makes this supplement unique is its capsule. It uses a few binders and excipients to bind part of the NAC in a slower-releasing form.
The effect is that some of the NAC gets released immediately, while the rest of it diffuses more slowly into your bloodstream.
This is hypothetically an advantageous way to deliver NAC, though most scientific research does not use this kind of formulation. Purists might not like the need for additional ingredients to achieve this slow/quick release effect, but it could be a good choice if you want sustained levels of NAC throughout the day.
Improve Brain Health By Regulating Glutamate And Replenishing Glutathione
We talked in section one about how NAC can help replenish the powerful antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione has been shown to help reduce oxidative damage to brain cells associated with aging.
NAC also has been shown to regulate brain glutamate levels. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that is involved in a range of behavior, memory and learning actions. NACs ability to replenish glutathione and regulate glutamate may have direct benefits to those with memory or brain ailments.
Parkinsons disease is known to cause deterioration of cells that generate the neurotransmitter dopamine. The disease is known to cause oxidative damage to cells as well as a decrease in antioxidant ability. NAC supplements have shown improvement in symptoms such as tremors as well as dopamine production.
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Sinus Infections Vs Colds
Many people cannot tell whether they have a cold or a sinus infection. Although the symptoms are like a cold, an infection is different because it can be bacterial and not only viral. But sometimes, a cold can turn into a sinus infection and cause a more serious health concern. One of the major differences is that a cold only lasts about five to ten days, whereas sinus infections can last for weeks or months. The two can overlap and make it hard to recognize.
Colds are contagious, and some sinus infections can be as well. A viral sinus infection is contagious, but a sinus infection is not contagious when caused by bacteria or nasal blockage from a foreign object. Nasal allergy infections are also not infectious because they result from your bodys immune response to allergens.
Can You Take Nac With Vitamin C
NAC has no known interactions with Vitamin C and is safe to take as long as the quantities of NAC and Vitamin C you are taking are within the suggested manufacturers recommendations. We suggest double-checking with your health care practitioner before taking any new supplements as well as ensuring any supplements you take are properly dosed for your specific needs.
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May Improve Fertility In Both Men And Women
Approximately 15% of all couples trying to conceive are affected by infertility. In almost half of these cases, male infertility is the main contributing factor .
Many male infertility issues increase when antioxidant levels are insufficient to combat free radical formation in your reproductive system. The oxidative stress can cause cell death and reduced fertility .
In some cases, NAC has been shown to improve male fertility.
One condition that contributes to male infertility is varicocele when veins inside the scrotum become enlarged due to free radical damage. Surgery is the primary treatment.
In one study, 35 men with varicocele were given 600 mg of NAC per day for three months post-surgery. The combination of surgery and NAC supplement improved semen integrity and partner pregnancy rate by 22% compared to the control group .
Another study in 468 men with infertility found that supplementing with 600 mg of NAC and 200 mcg of selenium for 26 weeks improved semen quality .
Researchers suggested that this combined supplement should be considered as a treatment option for male infertility.
In addition, NAC may improve fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome by inducing or augmenting the ovulation cycle .
Summary NAC may help improve fertility in men by reducing oxidative stress that damages or kills reproductive cells. It may also aid fertility in women with PCOS.
What Is Nac Why Do People Take It
N-acetylcysteine , the supplement form of cysteine, is an amino acid that helps the body create and use protective antioxidants.
While cysteine is found in many high-protein foods, NAC is only obtained from taking supplements or prescription drugs.
Because the human body can create some NAC from other amino acids, particularly methionine and serine, it is considered to be a semi-essential amino acid. That means there isnt a daily requirement of NAC that you must get from your diet, but getting higher amounts can benefit some people.
What is NAC used for? Some of its most common uses include:
- Increasing levels of the antioxidant called glutathione
- Treating acetaminophen
- Breaking up mucus in people with some lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis
- Protecting the liver
- Helping prevent bladder or neurologic damage caused by some drugs
- Potentially helping prevent colon cancer
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Relieve Flu Symptoms And Improve Respiratory Conditions
NAC is usedto provide relief from the symptoms of flu and other respiratory conditionsthrough its antioxidative and expectorant properties.
The expectorant properties of the supplement help it to loosen the mucus in the air passageways. The antioxidative properties of the amino acid are evident when glutathione is produced, and it reduces the inflammation of the lungs and bronchial tubes.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease caused by long-term inflammation of the lungs can cause coughing and difficulty in breathing. NAC can be used to relieve COPD symptoms and prevent lung damage.
Bronchitisis caused by the inflammation of the lungs and bronchial tubes. This results inthe swelling of the air passageways, leading to the shutting out of air.
NAC can help to tackle bronchitis by thinning mucus blocking the airways. It can also reduce the inflammation of the airways by the production of glutathione.
The glutathione is an antioxidant which helps to reduce the free radicals causing the inflammation.
Furthermore,NAC can also help in the improvement of other respiratory conditions such asasthma, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, nasal congestion, and sinuscongestion.
May Improve Addictive Behavior And Psychiatric Disorders
NAC is a powerful antioxidant that helps regulate glutamate which is the most important neurotransmitter in your brain. If you have too much glutamate along with too little glutathione it can actually cause brain damage.
This combination of too much glutamate and too little glutathione may contribute to adverse mental health conditions. Some examples would be addictive behavior, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder .
An animal study found that NAC may minimize effects such as social withdrawal, apathy, and reduced attention spans found in people suffering from schizophrenia. NAC has also been used to decrease withdrawal symptoms in everything from cocaine addicts to marijuana and nicotine addicts. Preliminary studies show that it may decrease cravings.
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Risks Side Effects And Interactions
Is NAC dangerous?
While its safe for most people to take, some drug interactions and negative reactions are possible. Overall, most experts believe that the use of NAC yields potential benefits that outweigh potential risks.
What are the side effects of NAC?
Potential NAC side effects can include:
- indigestion/upset stomach
- sweating
- skin rash
It might not be safe for people with asthma, bleeding problems or anyone taking nitroglycerin, including blood thinners and certain blood pressure medications. If these apply to you, check with your doctor before using NAC supplements to discuss any possible interactions.
Is NAC hard on the kidneys? Can NAC cause liver damage?
In very high doses any supplement is capable of contributing to liver or kidney problems however, as explained above, generally NAC is considered protective of the liver and kidneys, not a harm to them.
May Stabilize Blood Sugar By Decreasing Inflammation In Fat Cells
High blood sugar and obesity contribute to inflammation in fat tissue.
This can lead to damage or destruction of insulin receptors and put you at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes .
Animal studies show that NAC may stabilize blood sugar by decreasing inflammation in fat cells and thereby improving insulin resistance .
When insulin receptors are intact and healthy, they properly remove sugar from your blood, keeping levels within normal limits.
However, keep in mind that human research on NAC is needed to confirm these effects on blood sugar control.
Summary By decreasing inflammation in fat tissue, NAC may reduce insulin resistance and improve blood sugar regulation, but human-based research is lacking.
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What Are The Symptoms And Standard Treatments
Common symptoms of a bacterial sinus infection include:
- Nasal congestion or discharge,
- pain in the face or upper teeth,
- coughing,
- or sneezing.
- More severe symptoms may include fever. 12
As expected with any bacterial infection, the most common treatment will be a course of antibiotics. However, not only can antibiotics lead to diarrhea and removal of helpful bacteria from the digestive tract, but the body may build up a tolerance over time. In more severe cases, when the sinuses actually are deformed, surgery to widen the nasal and sinus passages may be required.12
Thoughts On Why The Fda Is Attacking Nac Supplements
- Walter Kryshak
So, why is the FDA threatening NAC now, during a pandemic when a new FDA commissioner hasnt even been appointed?
It is critically important to maintain access to affordable NAC supplements. In a recent interview with the Life Extension Foundation, Dr. Daniel Amen noted that NAC has shown promising results in people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, and addictions. It can also decrease inflammation and may help delay brain atrophy in Alzheimers disease. NAC protects the body from toxins, is a selective immune system enhancer, and helps remove free radicals, which contribute to neurogenerative diseases and aging.
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