Why NAC Should Be On Your Shelf

On July 29, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter[1] to seven companies who were selling a product containing N-Acteyl Cysteine (NAC) to prevent and treat hangovers. The FDA warned these companies that they must cease to advertise since the supplements are not approved by the FDA for such treatment. Moreover, the FDA stated it approved NAC as a drug in 1963, and it cannot be sold as a supplement. But there is only a hand-written note from that date with no signature, and it was only for an inhaled drug. Besides, the FDA has referred to NAC as a supplement for over 30 years. In spite of this, many companies have taken NAC out of their products. Amazon stopped selling most brands of NAC, making it difficult to get.

Nobody is sure where the actual controversy comes from, but several have noted that NAC is effective in the treatment of COVID-19 infection.[2] The elderly who have low levels of glutathione, a very important antioxidant and immune modulator, are especially helped by this supplement.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) comes from the amino acid L-cysteine. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins and provide many functions for the body. NAC is especially important as a source of sulfur that provides many important benefits to the body, such as making hair strong, detoxifying drugs and other toxins, and thinning mucous secretions. Thus, it makes sense that this amino acid has many benefits.

Benefits of NAC

NAC has been studied in many different illnesses, and has shown incredible results:

• Protects against scarring of the cornea (used in eye drops)
• Protects against heart disease
• Improves hair strength
• Improves stomach acid production
• Acts as an antioxidant
• Prevents cancer of stomach and pancreas
• Improves photosensitivity
• Improves insulin sensitivity
• Decreases vascular inflammation
• Thins mucous secretions
• Prevents aging
• Detoxifies acetaminophen (Tylenol) and many other toxins.
• Increases rates of ovulation and pregnancy in polycystic ovary disease
• Increase male infertility
• Decreases sleep apnea
• Reduces influenza symptoms
• Increases dopamine transport in Parkinson’s
• Improves cognitive function in those with multiple sclerosis
• Weakens peripheral neuropathy
• Improves stroke outcomes
• Prevents noise-induced hearing loss
• Treats diabetic neuropathy
• Treats Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Reduces negative symptoms of schizophrenia
• Prevents further bipolar illness episodes
• Controls obsessive compulsive disorder
• Acts as a chelator for heavy metals and nanoparticles[3][4]

Who would take NAC?

• People exposed to toxins such as painters, smokers, dry cleaners, lead, iron, chlorine, or any oxidizers.[5]
• Anyone who wants to prevent flu symptoms (including COVID-19)[6]
• Those aiming to improve hair and nail growth.
• Those with any inflammatory condition or chronic illness.
• Any who choose radiation or chemotherapy
• Those with immune dysfunction, including HIV
• People who have lung and breathing problems[7]

Why is NAC so effective at so many different problems?

NAC Produces Glutathione

The primary reason is that it is one of the three amino acids that make glutathione. [8] Glutathione is the primary antioxidant in the body, protecting all your mitochondria that produce the energy for your cells. Glutathione is also a primary detoxifier in the liver. Even a small dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) is highly toxic to the liver, but glutathione quickly detoxifies it. We can only get toxic from acetaminophen when we run out of glutathione. It also protects the kidneys from the toxicity of contrast dye and normal cells from chemotherapy toxins.

Some of the chemicals that glutathione is known to detoxify include:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other pharmaceuticals
• acetone, solvents, paint removers
• fuels and fuel by-products
• heavy metals (mercury (dental amalgams, vaccines, tattoos), lead, cadmium, copper, etc.)
• pesticides, herbicides
• nitrates and other chemical food preservatives
• artificial sweetener aspartame
• synthetic food dyes
• benzopyrenes (tobacco smoke, barbequed foods, fuel exhaust)
• alcohol
• household chemicals (synthetically scented and colored detergents and fabric softeners, air fresheners, mothballs, mildew removers, cleaners and bleach, lawn and plant fertilizers, etc.)
• housewares chemicals (non-stick coating of pans and skillets, plastic containers and linings of tin cans and other food packaging)
• formaldehyde and styrene (photocopiers and toner printers)
• chlorine in treated water
• medical X-rays
• UV radiation
• electromagnetic fields (EMF)
• industrial pollutants[9]

Glutathione decreases with age.[10] From about age 20 there is a gradual decline in this essential antioxidant. For this reason, many believe glutathione production is the key to preventing aging. I believe it’s only part of the picture, but an important part.