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NAcetylCysteine:TheOverlookedCompoundThatSavesLivesLifeExtension

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LIFEEXTENSIONMAGAZINE
<<BacktoMay2010(/Magazine/2010/5)

TheOverlookedCompoundThatSavesLives
May2010
ByJuliusGoepp,MD

NacetylCysteine

/index)

Formorethanthreedecades,asafe,lowcostcompoundhasprovidedmillionsof
peoplerelieffromthecoughing,wheezing,andthickphlegmassociatedwithcold
andflu.Ofcourse,pharmaceuticalcompanieslongagocoopteditforprofitby
incorporatingitintovariouspatenteddrugs.
Thesadconsequenceisthatmostagingindividualshaveneverheardofit.Evenmanydoctorsremain
unawareofitspotentialroleasafrontlinedefenseagainstsomeoftodaysmostdeadlypublichealth
threats,including:
Acetaminophentoxicityandacuteliverfailure:thenumberonecauseofacuteliverfailureinthe
UnitedStates.1
Influenza:whosevictimsareprimarilyagingindividualsthreequartersofallflurelateddeathsoccur
intheelderly.2
Chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease:thefourthleadingcauseofdeathintheUnitedStates
(includesemphysemaandchronicbronchitis).2
Helicobacterpylori:thebacterialculpritbehindstomachulcers,andapotentiallylethalpathogen
closelylinkedtomalignantgastriccancer,thesecondmostfrequentcauseofcancerdeathworldwide.3
Fortunately,renewedclinicalinterestinitsbroadspectrumbenefitsisyieldingfreshdataonpromising
interventionsforthissafe,effectivecompound.
Inthisarticle,youwilldiscoverthelatestresearchonNacetylcysteine(NAC),areadilyavailable,
inexpensiveaminoacidderivativewithfourdecadesofscientificvalidation.Youwilllearnofitsrolein
restoringintracellularlevelsofoneofthebodysmostpowerfulantioxidantdefenses,glutathione(GSH).
Youwillalsofindouthow6001,800mgofNACdailymayactasaneffectiveinterventionagainsta
constellationofchronic,degenerativediseases,includingimpairedglucosecontrolandcancer.

AnUnderutilizedIntervention
NACisaslightlymodifiedversionofthesulfurcontainingaminoacidcysteine.Whentakeninternally,
NACreplenishesintracellularlevelsofthenaturalantioxidantglutathione(GSH),helpingtorestorecells
abilitytofightdamagefromreactiveoxygenspecies(ROS).
NAChasbeenusedinconventionalmedicineformorethan30years,primarilyasamucolytic(mucous
thinner)inhaledtomanageconditionssuchascysticfibrosis,inwhichmucousisabnormallythickand
tenacious.Whilethereislittleinthescientificliteraturetosupportitsuseasaninhalant,NAC
administeredinthisformremainshighlypopularamongexperiencedpulmonaryspeclialists.4,5
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NACgivenintravenouslyororally,ontheotherhand,savesliveseveryyearasatreatmentforacute
poisoningwithacetaminophencontainingpainrelievingdrugs.AcetaminophenissoldasTylenoland
combinedwithotherdrugstocreateanalgesiccompounds,includingVicodinandPercocet.6
OverdoseswithacetaminophenarethenumberonecauseofacuteliverfailureintheUnitedStates.68
Toomuchacetaminophenoverwhelmsthebodysglutathionereserves,whichcreateswidespreadand
irreversibleliverdamage.NACquicklyrestoresprotectivelevelsofglutathione,avertingcatastrophe.7
Beyondthisparticularapplication,NAChasremainedarelativelyobscureandpoorlyunderstood
compounduntilquiterecently.Scientistsallovertheworldarenowbeginningtounderstandjusthowvital
glutathionemetabolismreallyis,andhowmanydiseasestatesinvolveglutathionedeficiency.9According
toStanfordUniversitysDr.KondalaR.Atkuri,NAChasbeenusedsuccessfullytotreatglutathione
deficiencyinawiderangeofinfections,geneticdefectsandmetabolicdisorders,includingHIVinfection
andCOPD.Overtwothirdsof46placebocontrolledclinicaltrialswithorallyadministeredNAChave
indicatedbeneficialeffectsofNACmeasuredeitherastrialendpointsorasgeneralmeasuresof
improvementinqualityoflifeandwellbeingofthepatients.9

MultitargetedRegulationofGeneExpression
MuchofNACsbeneficialactivityderivesfromitscapacitytomodulateexpressionof
genesformyriadsignalingmoleculesintheinflammatoryresponse.1012NAC
inhibitsexpressionofproinflammatorycytokinesfollowingexposuretobacterialcell
componentsandinfectionwithinfluenzaAvirus.13,14NACsuppressesthemaster
signalingmoleculenuclearfactorkappaB(NFkB),whichinturnpreventsactivation
ofmultipleinflammatorymediators.15,16NACalsoregulatesthegeneforCOX2,theenzymethat
producespainandinflammationinducingprostaglandinsinawidearrayofchronicconditions.17
NACsabilitytoreplenishtheintracellularglutathionesupplyandmitigateoxidativedamageisaseparate
andequallypowerfulmechanismthataffordsprotectionagainstDNAdamageandcancerdevelopment,
eveninsmokers.18NACsinhibitionofinflammatorycytokineproductionisanothermechanismcredited
withcancerreductioninvariousbodytissues.19
GeneexpressionmodificationsinducedbyNACmayalsohelpreducetheacuteoxidantprovoked
inflammatoryresponsefollowingexercise,makingvigorousactivitysaferandevenmorebeneficial.20
Finally,obesityassociatedinsulinresistance,whicharisesfromproductionofinflammatorysignaling
moleculesinfatcells,canbesharplymitigatedbyNACthroughregulationoftheirgenes.21,22
TherecentexplosionofscientificevidenceforNACsmultitargetedhealthbenefitsismatchedonlyby
thewillfulignoranceofthemainstreammedicalcommunity.Someevenquestionitssafety,despitenearly
40yearsofuseinavarietyofclinicalconditions,whichhaveestablishedthesafetyofthiscompound,
evenatveryhighdosesandforlongtermtreatments.18Onestudydemonstratedthesafetyof1,800mg
perdayfor142days,whileanotherstudydemonstratedthesafetyof2,800mgperdayfor3months.23
HereisaselectionofthemostcompellinginformationaboutNACfromtheglobalscientificcommunity
informationthatshouldconvinceevenskepticalmainstreamphysicians.
WHATYOUNEEDTOKNOW:NACETYLCYSTEINESBROADSPECTRUMBENEFITS

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Longrelegatedtoinfrequentuseinunusualcircumstances,theaminoacidderivedcompoundN
acetylcysteine(NAC)hasdrawnincreasedscientificattention.
NACreplenisheslevelsoftheintracellularantioxidantglutathione(GSH),whichisoftendeficient
withadvancingageandinchronicillness.
NACalsoregulatesexpressionofscoresofgenesinthepathwaysthatlinkoxidativestressto
inflammation.
ThesedualeffectsgiveNACauniqueroleinthepreventionandtreatmentofmanycommon
diseases,bothacuteandchronic.
NACcanprotectagainstavianinfluenzaandmorecommonseasonalflusymptoms.
NACreducesthefrequencyanddurationofattacksofchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease
(COPD)andmayslowtheclinicalcourseofidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosis(IPF).
NACprotectstissuesfromtheeffectsofexerciseinducedoxidativestress,addingvalueandsafety
toyourworkout.
NACimprovesinsulinsensitivityinpeoplewithsomeofthemostdifficulttotreatmetabolic
disorders.
NACblockscancerdevelopmentatvirtuallyeverystepintheprocess,andthroughmultiple
mechanisms,makingitanimportantcancerchemopreventiveagent.
NACfightsthestomachinfectionHelicobacterpyloriontwofronts,inhibitingtheorganismsgrowth
whilereducingproductionofinflammatorycytokinesthatcanleadtogastritisandcancer.
Thoughmostindividualsgainbenefitsfrom6001,800mg/day,clinicalstudieshavefoundthatdoses
ofupto2,000mg/dayaresafeandeffective.Arecentstudydemonstratedthesafetyof2,800
mg/dayfor3monthsinpatientswithCOPD.23

PotentInfluenzaProtection
H5N1influenza,orbirdflu,isalethalandpotentiallypandemicinfectionthatproducesthemassive
releaseofinflammatorymediatorsaptlycalledthecytokinestorm.24Othermorecommonformsof
influenzaalsoactbytriggeringmassivecytokinereleasesthatinflamevulnerablelungtissue.Inearly
2010,itwasdiscoveredthatNACoffersdualprotectionagainstbirdflu.Itinhibitsbothvirusreplication
andexpressionofproinflammatorymoleculesincellsinfectedwithH5N1virus,holdingoutthepromise
ofeffectiveprotectionintheeventofaglobalavianflupandemic.13
NAChasalsoproveneffectiveagainstseasonalinfluenzaandflulikeillnesses.Ina
largestudyofolderadultswhotook600mgtwicedailyfor6months,only25%of
thoseexperiencedinfluenzalikeepisodes,comparedwith79%intheplacebo
group.25Eventhosewithflusymptomsexperiencedasignificantreductioninillness
severityandlengthoftimeconfinedtobed.Allsubjectstoleratedthetreatmentwell.
Thestudysleadauthor,Dr.SilviodeFlora,commentedthatAdministrationofNacetylcysteineduring
thewinter,thus,appearstoprovideasignificantattenuationofinfluenzaandinfluenzalikeepisodes,
especiallyinelderlyhighriskindividuals.25
Influenzaisacomplexdiseasewithmultipletargets,mostnotablyinflictingdamagetolungtissuethrough
extremeoxidativestressandinducinggenesforalargevarietyofinflammatorymediators.26,27Atthe
microscopiclevelthedestructionisvivid.Theinfluenzaviruscausessuchintracellularturmoilthatthe
termcellboilinghasbeenusedtodescribethedevastation.28ButpretreatmentofcellswithNAC
significantlyoffsetstheseeffects,reducingtheoxidativeandinflammatoryburdenwithinlungtissue
throughmultiplemechanisms.26,2830
NAChasnowbeenshowntoprotectlaboratorymicefromlethalinfluenzainfection,synergistically
enhancingtheeffectsofseveralcommonantiviralmedications.31,32Andanutrientmixturecontaining
NAC,greenteaextract,certainaminoacidsandmicronutrientshadpowerfulantiviraleffectsincultured
cells,rivalingthoseofprescriptionfludrugssuchasamantadineandoseltamivir(Tamiflu).33,34The
NACbasedmixtureactuallyaffectedviralreplicationforalongerperiodthandidthedrugs.34
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InthewordsofprolificmedicaltheoristMarkF.McCarty,Themostfoolproofwaytopromotesurvivalin
epidemicsofpotentiallylethalinfluenzaistotargetintracellularsignalingpathwayswhichpromoteviral
propagationorlunginflammation.30McCartygoesontociteNACsbenefitsasamultitargeted
supplementwithpreciselythoseattributes.NACatdosesof600mgtwicedailymaysignificantlyreduce
theriskofadevastatingboutofinfluenza.
NACANDPULMONARYARTERIALHYPERTENSION:AREALRISK?

Nacetylcysteine(NAC)producesnumerousbeneficialeffectsinmanyhumantissuesbothby
supportingnaturalantioxidantsystemsandbyfavorablyaffectingexpressionofgenesinvolvedinthe
inflammatoryresponse.
A2007studyinlaboratorymice,however,hasraisedatheoreticalconcernthatchronicNAC
administrationinthoseanimalsmightproduceaconditioncalledpulmonaryarterialhypertension.76
Hereisareviewofthatstudyandsomereassuringfacts:

TheIssue
Pulmonaryarterialhypertension(PAH)isanelevationinbloodpressureinthearteriesleadingfrom
thehearttothelungs.Itisoneoftheconsequencesofchronichypoxia(lackofsufficientoxygen)
thatoccursinanumberofchroniccardiovascularandpulmonary(lung)diseases.Italsoarisesin
peoplewithobstructivesleepapnea.7779Itisararecondition,butwhenitoccursitcanbedifficultto
detectandmaybefatalifuntreated.79Itscausesremainunclear,buttheyseemtoinvolvesignaling
moleculesproducedduringhypoxiasomeofthosemoleculesincludethoseinvolvedindetecting
andrespondingtooxidativestress.80

TheConcern
ScientistsattheUniversityofVirginiaSchoolofMedicinewerestudyingthemolecularsignaling
involvedinhypoxiarelateddevelopmentofPAHwhentheyobservedwhatseemedtobea
concerningfinding:micetreatedwithNACoverperiodsof3weeksweredevelopingPAHthat
mimickedtheeffectsofchronichypoxia.76ThescientistswerenotstudyingtheeffectsofNACitself
theyweresimplyusingittomeasureothernitrogenrelatedtransferreactionsinblood.Andthe
dosestheyusedcorrespondtoahumandoseofabout20grams(20,000mg)perdayfarabove
anyknownsupplementrecommendation.Nevertheless,partsoftheirreportwerecitedinone
commentaryasraisingtheconcernthatchronicNACtherapymayinducesimilarvascular
pathologyinpatients.81
Isthisarealisticconcern,orisitalaboratoryanomaly?Herestheevidencetodate.

TheEvidence
TheVirginiateamsmousestudywaspublishedin2007.Now,nearly3yearslater,therehasnot
beenasingleadditionalpublicationconnectingNACtherapywithPAHineitheranimalsorhumans.
Inreality,asubstantialamountofsciencebothbeforeandafterthe2007reportsuggestsjustthe
oppositethatNACmaybeinstrumentalinreducing,notincreasing,theoxidantinducedblood
vesselchangesthatoccurinPAH.Herearethehighlights:

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Inoneoftheoriginalanimalstudiesdemonstratingthatoxidativestresscontributesto
developmentofPAHinducedbyhypoxia,NACactuallyreducedtheheartandlungchangesthat
leadtoPAH,inpartbyreducingtoxicperoxidemolecules.80
NAC,givenbeforeandatthebeginningofexperimentalhypoxia,waseffectiveatpreventing
PAH,includingdeadlyheartmusclechanges,inlaboratoryrats.82
NACprotectsexperimentalanimalslungsfromtheacutelunginjurycausedbyavarietyof
mechanismsinvolvinghypoxia,oxidantstress,andinflammation,throughitsjointantioxidantand
antiinflammatoryactions.83,84
AstudyofhumanvolunteersrevealedthatNACsupplementsat1,800mg/dayincreasedthe
healthyrespiratoryresponsetohypoxia,85whichnormallydeclinesstronglywithageandmay
contributetoPAH.86AlthoughthisstudywascitedbytheVirginiagroupassupportingtheir
concernaboutNACinducingPAH,nosuchevidenceispresentedinthehumanstudy,andinfact
theauthorsconcludethatNACtreatmentmaybeusefulforelderlysubjectsandforpatientswho
haveotherconditionswithanoxidativeshiftsuchascoronaryheartdiseaseandmalignant
diseases.85

TheRecommendation
Therehavebeennofurtherpublicationssupportingthisonetimeobservationmadeinananimal
modelusingdoses1020timesthosesuggestedforlongtermhumansupplementation.Nohuman
studyhasuncoveredanyevidenceforasimilareffectinhumans.Bycontrast,therehavebeen
numerousstudiesdemonstratinghumanbenefitfromNACsupplementationatmoderatedoses
(1,2001,800mgperday)overthecourseofnearly4decades.Atthispointtheknownbenefitsof
NACappeartooutweighanypotentialrisks.Aswithallsupplementation,peopleshould
communicateclearlywiththeirhealthcareprovidersabouthowsupplementsandmedicationsmight
workjointlytoinfluencetheirhealth.

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64Comments

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Jointhediscussion
Pmch24monthsago

Thankyouforthisindepth,intelligent,criticallyandscientificallyvalidresearch.Extraordinary.
2

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LifeExtension

Mod >Pmch2 4monthsago

LifeExtensionappreciatesyourpositivefeedback.

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totnuckers2monthsago

Hi,I'mahealthypersongoingtogym2xaweek,don'thaveanyillnessandI'mtakingNAC600mg2xa
day.IsittruethatIshouldnottakethesupplementatleastfor2daysaweek?ThereasonisthatNAC

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/5/nacetylcysteine/page01

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day.IsittruethatIshouldnottakethesupplementatleastfor2daysaweek?ThereasonisthatNAC
increasesbodyglutathionelevelsandifchronicallyelevatedyourbodymaybegintodecreaseglutathione
levelsinordertokeepthematconsistentlevel(thisiscalledhemeostatsis).Isthisvalidorscientifically
approvedreasoning?
Btw.thankyouforthisawesomearticleaboutNAC.
1

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JedGraham>totnuckers13daysago

NO,letscallitasupplyandifyourbodyhasenoughsupplyitcamemakeglutathione,withoutitcan
not.Goodquestion!

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LifeExtension

Mod >totnuckers 2monthsago

Amnotawareofthistypeoffeedbackmechanisminthebodythatinvolvesglutathioneproduction.
Wheredidyouencounterthishypothesis?

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totnuckers>LifeExtension2monthsago

IsawthisfromoneofthebuyerscommentstothesupplementthatIbought.Andthisstudy
https://www.hindawi.com/journa...

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LifeExtension

Mod >totnuckers 2monthsago

Didnotreadanythinginthearticleregardingthatkindoffeedbackmechanism
involvingNACandglutathione.
1

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StefanSeiler2monthsago

IsitnotbesttakenwithVitaminCoristhatnotreallyasmuchan
issuewithNACasitiswithitsbasederivativepriortoacetylation,
LCysteine?Thereisnotreallyanyconclusiveinformationregarding
thisanywhereonline.AlsosurprisedthattheLinusPaulingInstitute
doesnothaveapageonNAC.WhatareLEF'sthoughtsontheVitaminC
prooxidativeNACissue?
Also,isitnotoptimaltotakeNAC
onanemptystomachorwithalightsimplecarbohydrate,nonprotein
containingfoodorbeverage?
1

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LifeExtension

Mod >StefanSeiler 2monthsago

OnebiochemisttoldmethatNACdoesn'thavethesameissueasLcysteineinregardto
necessitatingtheconcomitantuseofvitaminCtokeepitinitsreducedform.Butihavealways
addedavitaminCcapsulealongwithNACanywayjusttobeonthesafeside,anditsatleasta
goodwaytogetalittleextraC.Idon't,however,takethreetimesasmuchvitaminCas(Nacetyl)
cysteineasDurkPearsonsuggestedforLcysteine.
Inanswertoyoursecondquestion,it'snotnecessarytotakewithoutfoodbecauseoneisnot
targetingthebloodbrainbarrier,andit'snotnecessarytotakewithfoodunlessoneexperiences
stomachupsetfromNACorvitaminCifonechoosestouseitaswell.
1

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Luke4monthsago

HiIhaveaPanicdisorderIhavejuststartedtakingNAC600mgadayandIamgettingatightchestand
headachewithmyheartbeatingfasthowcanIstopthisfromhappening?

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/5/nacetylcysteine/page01
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LifeExtension

Mod >Luke 4monthsago

IfithappenseverytimeyouconsumeNAC,theproductshouldbediscontinued.Ifit'sonly
happenedonce,itmaybeacoincidence.
1

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Eddy>Luke3monthsago

Itcouldbeanallergicreactionwhichisreallycommon.

Reply Share
onlinevitaminscanada5monthsago

NiceInformation!Ipersonallyreallyappreciateyourarticle.Thisisagreatwebsite.IwillmakesurethatI
stopbackagain!.
1

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yahairaamonthago

IcantfigurewhatpathwaysareaffectedbyNAC?pleasehelpimconfused

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LifeExtension

Mod >yahaira amonthago

NACaffectsglutathionepathways,RasExtracellularsignalRegulatedKinase(ERK)pathway,
neurotransmitterpathways,oxidativepathways,etc.Thearticlestates,"NACalsoregulates
expressionofscoresofgenesinthepathwaysthatlinkoxidativestresstoinflammation."

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rcw2monthsago

Hello,IstartedtakingNACandmychestandneckhavebeenfeelingverytightandIhaveadrycough.
Couldthisbeasideeffectormorelikelyacoincidence?THanks!

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LifeExtension

Mod >rcw 2monthsago

Havenotheardofthissideeffectbutweareallbiochemicallyunique.Trydiscontinuingittoseeif
thesymptomsgoawayandthenreintroducealowdosetoseeiftheyreappear,therebymakingit
likelierthattheyareassociatedwithNAC.Itisalsorecommendedthatyouaskyourphysicianabout
yoursymptoms.

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LizM2monthsago

Hi,IhaveCOPD,notseverelybutuseinhalerseveryday,whichI'dliketostop.
I'mafit(apartfromcopd)60yrold.
I'veseenNACforsaleinloosepowderform,whichworksoutmuchcheaperthancapsules.
Whatwouldyourecommendandatwhatdose?
Ifeelquitehopefulaboutthis.
Thanksforyourarticle.

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LifeExtension

Mod >LizM 2monthsago

Youarewelcome.
Seehttp://www.lifeextension.com/P...forsuggestions.

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VickieBlew2monthsago

Ihaveancinetobacterbaumanniiinthelungsmyimmunesystemisgonefromdrusing2yrssteroidsand
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/5/nacetylcysteine/page01

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Ihaveancinetobacterbaumanniiinthelungsmyimmunesystemisgonefromdrusing2yrssteroidsand
prEdisonwillNACorsomethingelsehelpmeI'mprayingit'sverydangerous

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LifeExtension

Mod >VickieBlew 2monthsago

YoumaybenefitfromNACbutabacterialinfectionisbesttreatedbyyourphysician.

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TanyaWheeler3monthsago

Hello!IhavebeentormentedwithOCDformostofmylifeandhavetakenCelexatohelppreventsomeof
thetendencies.IcameacrossNACthroughaDukeUniversitystudyandbegantoresearchthis
compound.IreadsomeofthepostandnoticedNAChasanassociationwithSulfa,whichIamallergicto.
Canyoupleaseelaborateonthisrelationship?Thankyou...Tanya

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LifeExtension

Mod >TanyaWheeler 3monthsago

ThereissulfurinNACasinalotofthingsyoumayeatallthetime,likeeggsorotherproteinfoods.
Itisnotthesameasasulfadrug,whichsomepeopleareallergicto.
3

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keith4monthsago

HiIamrecoveringfromchemoradiotherapyforatonsilcancer.
WouldNACsupplementationbegoodforthis

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LifeExtension

Mod >keith 4monthsago

Don'tknowifitwillhelpyoubutthereisn'tanycontroversyconcerningitsuseafterchemotherapy
andradiationtherapyhavebeendiscontinued.

Reply Share
Dolph5monthsago

I'vegotnosmellandsinceacoupleyearspolypsinmynose.That'sprobablythereasonIdon'tsmell
becausetheydocoveryoursmellsenses.IsometimestakecalcortsoIcansmellagain.butthat's
cortisonethusbad!IsNAChelpfulforpolypsandothernoseproblems.Thatwouldbealivesaver!!!

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LifeExtension

Mod >Dolph 5monthsago

Asfarasisknownbyme,it'shelpfulatbreakingupmucusthatcanclogthenose,butamedline
searchdidn'tturnupanythinginregardtoanassociation,goodorbad,withnasalpolyps.

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Dolph>LifeExtension5monthsago

Thanksforthefastreply.IalsohaveTrichotillomania.ReadthatNACishelpfull.Whatwould
bethedoseIshouldtakeforbestresult.

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LifeExtension

Mod >Dolph 5monthsago

Seehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pu...foradescriptionofastudythatusedit.The
dosageusedinthestudyisn'tnecessarilywhatwouldgiveyouthebestresult.
PleaseaskyourphysicianifyoushoulduseNAC.

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Kathy5monthsago

DuetofluoroquinonetoxicityI'dliketostarttakingNACbutmybloodpressureisalreadylow,tothepointof
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/5/nacetylcysteine/page01

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beingproblematic.WouldtakingNAClowermybloodpressurefurther?

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LifeExtension

Mod >Kathy 5monthsago

Thismetaanalysishttp://www.sciencedirect.com/s...showedthatNACrarelycausedlowblood
pressure,butthesubjectswhoreceiveditwereacuteliverfailurepatients.Thisstudy
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com...involvedtheadministrationofNACtopatientswithhypotensionand
theabstractdoesn'tmentionanyexacerbationofsuch.Otherstudieslisthypotensionasanallergic
reaction.PleaseaskyourphysicianaboutusingNAC.

Reply Share
DrRonDrucker5monthsago

Yes,NACisprotectiveoftheliverandAcetaminophenpoisoningstimulatesGlutathioneproductionand
helpsthinmucusinrespiratoryillnesses.That'sthelikelyreasonforthenegative"research"paperas
usual,paidlackeysaretryingtoturnpeopleawayfromthebenefitsofsafesupplements.Nothingnewthe
samenonsenseattackshavebeenmadeonvitaminE,eggs,cholesterol,etc.,andinnumerableother
beneficialsubstances.Eventhesunisdemonized.

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LifeExtension

Mod >DrRonDrucker 5monthsago

Thankyouforyourthoughts.

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Avatar Thiscommentwasdeleted.
LifeExtension

Mod >Guest 5monthsago

Yes,NAChashelpedwithotherpsychologicaladdictionsorcompulsions,likehairtrichotillomania
andgambling.Seehttp://www.lifeextension.com/W...

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TimSuetens6monthsago

Ihaveheardfromquestionablesourcesthatacetylcysteinealsoworkswellagainstallergies,includingthe
dreadedseasonalallergies.Isthereanythingtothisrumor?

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LifeExtension

Mod >TimSuetens 6monthsago

AmedlinesearchforacetylcysteineANDallergiesfailedtoretrieveanyrelevantabstracts.N
acetylcysteineisusedtothinmucussecretionswhichmighthelpwithallergysymptomsbutthere's
noevidencethatiteliminatesanallergyorallergies.

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TimSuetens>LifeExtension6monthsago

Thanksfortheinfo,muchappreciated!

Reply Share
englishrose017monthsago

Imonhighbloodpressuremedication(LosartanPotassium100mgspd)andanantidepressant
(Venlafaxine75mgspd).Willitinteractsafelywithmyprescribedmeds?Thanks.

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LifeExtension

Mod >englishrose01 7monthsago

TherearenocautionslistedconcerningthesedrugsontheproductpageforNacetylLcysteine,
however,itisrecommendedtoaskyourphysicianaboutpotentialconflicts.
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/5/nacetylcysteine/page01

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Reply Share
Tamara7monthsago

Imtakingnacforendometriosisandpcos.Accidentallycameaccrosanartical(fromagirlnotadoctor)on
thenet.Thearticlesaid3capsof600aday.Forjust3daysinarow.ItakethemonMonday,Tuesdayand
Wednesday.I'malsoasmoker.IthinkIhavealsohavesomeobsessivecompulsivebehaviour.My
questionis:Is3x600enoughinmycase.OrmustItakemoreoreverydaybecauseIsmokeandmy
compulsivebehaviour?Itakeallthreeatonce.Thankyou.TamarafromHolland

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LifeExtension

Mod >Tamara 7monthsago

ForPCOS,itissuggestedtotakethreecapsuleseveryday,spreadthroughouttheday.

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PMorrison8monthsago

IhavesometicsandrecentlyboughtsomeNAC.TOHELP.Iplantostartat1200mgsperday.Isitalright
totakeallatonceis2600mgcapsules?Alsowouldyourecommendtakingmorethen1200mgs?Ifit
mattersIam52.6'5220lbsandinverygoodhealthotherwise.
Alsoisitalrighttoopenthecapsuleandjusttakepowderwithin?Thanks.

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LifeExtension

Mod >PMorrison 8monthsago

It'smoreeffectivetodivideone'sNacetylcysteinedose.Try600mgtwiceperdayandifitdoesn't
help,600mgthreetimesperdaycouldbetried.Yes,itisoktoopenthecapsuleandmixthepowder
withliquid,orwashitdownwithliquid.

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Nicole10monthsago

CanyoutakeNACalongwithMSMandalphalipoicacid?

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CarolinaGirl>Nicoleamonthago

Itakeall3everydayandhavebeenforseveralyears.
1

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AshleyWills>Nicole9monthsago

Whynot?Struggletothinkofanyreasonwhyyoucouldnot

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THParkayearago

Mywifetookaglutathionpowder,includingNAC,togetherwithlotsofwaterandfood,andhadaserious
allergicsideeffect.Shehadnotonlystomachupsetbutalsolossofpower.Iguessshemayhavesome
geneticallergytoabsorbingNACorsulfurcontent?Anyhow,ifsheneedsglutathion,whatshouldshedo?
Shehasnostomachproblemwithmilkanddairy.Thankyou.

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LifeExtension

Mod >THPark ayearago

It'snotpossibletosaywhichsupplementcausedwhatsheexperiencedorifitwascausedby
somethingelsesheateorwasunrelatedtowhatsheingested.Sulfurispresentinmanyfoodsso
it'sdoubtfulthattheproblemisduetothiselement.Glutathioneisformedinthebodyfromcysteine,
sohighcysteinefoodsorsupplementingwithLcysteinewillhelp.
1

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AshleyWills>THPark9monthsago
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AshleyWills>THPark9monthsago

Iwouldn'ttakeglutathionedirectly.Justprovidetheingredientsthebodyneedsinordertomakeit's
ownsupply.

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