Home > N-acetylcysteine

N-acetylcysteine is a chemical, commonly called NAC, produced by the body that enhances the production of the enzyme glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. In the United States, it is available as an over the counter supplement in health stores and in an oral solution as Mucomyst^® that can be ingested or aerosolized and inhaled. Outside of the United States, it is available in pharmacies as an over the counter oral medicine and also available in an intravenous form as Parvolex^®.

NAC has different uses in the treatment of medical conditions:

• NAC is used as a mucolytic ("mucus dissolving") agent to help break up the thick mucus often present in people suffering from respiratory ailments (e.g. flu, bronchitis, sinusitis), which it accomplishes by the splitting disulphide bonds in mucoproteins. In more severe cases, like chronic respiratory conditions, it is given as an inhaled mist.

• When NAC is administered either intravenously or orally, it may be used in the treatment of acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose in order to protect the liver from damage.

• Recently, it has been noticed that the antioxidant properties of oral NAC can reduce the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy when given before iodine-containing contrast agents. This is widely used in individuals with renal insufficiency to prevent the worsoning of their baseline renal function (as measured by creatinine clearance).

• Studies indicate that NAC can also be used to lessen the symptoms and duration of the flu and the common cold.

• It is used by AIDS patients, whose glutathione levels are depressed, and also by bodybuilders, whose intense training causes temporary lower levels of glutathione.

• NAC may also be useful in the treatment of cocaine addiction and in the removal of mercury from the body.

• Studies suggest that NAC, taken together with Vitamin C and B1 can be used to prevent and relief syptoms of Veisalgia ( hangover caused by alcohol). The primary detoxification mechanism for scavenging unmetabolized acetaldehyde (product of Alcohol_dehydrogenase) is sulfur-containing antioxidants. Cysteine and glutathione are active against acetaldehyde because they contain a reduced (unoxidized) form of sulfur called a sulfhydryl group, which contains a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (abreviated SH). Another study indicates, that N-acetylcysteine generally regresses the oxidative damage induced by Alcohol.