N-Acetyl Cysteine

An Amino Acid

Description:

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a low molecular weight nucleophilic thiol which forms glutathione, cystine, l-methionine and mixed disulfides. Oral administration of NAC elevates levels of reduced glutathione in the liver, in the bronchial and alveolar fluid and in plasma. Cystine is the stable form of cysteine and the body uses them interchangeably and is therefore thought of as the same molecule.

Plants/Food:

• Avocado
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Chocolate
• Cottage cheese
• Duck
• Egg
• Granola
• Oat flakes
• Pork
• Ricotta
• Turkey
• Wheat germ
• Whole milk
• Wild game
• Yogurt

Physiological Functions:

• Antidotes toxic overdoses and Tylenol overdoses
• Antioxidant properties include:
  
  Primary defense against intracellular oxidative damage
  Enzyme-catalyzed antioxidant
  Mediator of neutrophilic scavenging activity
• Binds to intracellular eletrophiles, forming inactive thioethers
• Essential precursor for glutathione biosynthesis
• Free radical scavenger
• Glutathione detoxes halogen substituted aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons
• Improves phagocytic capacity of alveolar macrophages
• Prohibits both spontaneous and induced mutations in bacteria
• Mucolytic agent
• Regulatory mediator between macrophages and lymphocytes

Clinical Indications:

• AIDS
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Attention deficit disorder
• Bronchitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Otitis media, serous
• PMS
• Uterine fibroid
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose
• Acute respiratory syndrome
• Alcohol induced gastric ulcers (animal studies)
• Alleviates cobalt and molybdenum toxicity
• Baldness and hair loss
• Calcium oxalate urolithiasis
• Cancer
• Cancer related viral diseases
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Cystic fibrosis
• Helicobacter pylori - helpful with other therapies
• Photosensitivity
• Protective against toxic effects of doxarubicin, adapsone, cisplatin
• Upper respiratory diseases

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• Limited data

Causes of Deficiencies:

• Chronic degenerative diseases

Contraindications:

• Genetic disorder cystinosis, or Fanconi's

Toxicity and Side Effects:

• Genetic disorder cystinosis, or Fanconi's, causes the body to build up harmful levels of L-cystine (not cysteine)

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).