NAC as Treatment
In the world of supplements, a few items are basic for most people, things like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin D and NAC.
NAC and Glutathione
NAC is important as a precursor to the production of glutathione. Glutathione is made of three amino acids, and cysteine is usually the one in shortest supply. So taking NAC (N-acetylcysteine) will help supply that cysteine. NAC is also known as: N-acetylcysteine, N-acetyl cysteine, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine.
Recent research has highlighted a curious finding. NAC alone doesn't seem to effectively increase blood levels of glutathione like you would expect but if you add ALA (alpha lipoic acid)
ALA Can Help Raise Glutathione Levels
NAC can be an important supplement to add to your routine. Along with ALA (alpha lipoic acid) NAC can increase your glutathione production that is vital for most detox pathways. Really, if you are trying to increase glutathione production with NAC, be sure to add a couple hundred milligrams of ALA or you won't get the increase you want.
When we do genetic evaluation and counseling, we frequently run across detox and neurotransmitter pathways that need help from glutathione. We do have a few ways to increase glutathione with sublingual lozenges, liposomal preparations and/or NAC + ALA. It is great to have several options as not everyone has the same preferences. We also have energetic patches that help increase your body's own production of glutathione although with those we still recommend tossing in some of the raw materials like NAC and ALA to be sure your body has what it needs to produce glutathione.
I do want to at least mention another function of NAC besides glutathione production. This involves its role in regulating the glutamatergic system.
NAC Modulate Some Neurotransmitters
Some researchers have looked extensively at the glutamatergic system and NAC. NAC helps modulate this system and influences the reward-reinforcement pathway. Because of these functions, NAC may exert a therapeutic effect on certain psychiatric disorders allegedly related to oxidative stress (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) as well as psychiatric syndromes characterized by impulsive/compulsive symptoms (e.g., trichotillomania, pathological nail biting, gambling, substance misuse). While the dosages, pharmacological strategies (monotherapy versus augmentation), and long-term risks are not fully evident, NAC appears to be a promising, relatively low-risk intervention. If so, NAC might be a decent treatment option for a variety of psychiatric conditions in both psychiatric and primary care settings.
NAC and Glutamate
The biochemical rationale for using NAC for treatment of OCD stems from findings that abnormal levels of glutamate, the brain's most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter, may contribute to the disorder. (Animal studies at the Medical University of South Carolina have found that N-acetylcysteine can lower levels of brain glutamate). If NAC is effective, it would have some significant advantage over standard treatment: it is inexpensive, there are no significant NAC side effects and is available without a prescription. However, evidence that NAC can help OCD patients "remains extremely thin," in the words of the Yale researchers, even though other well-controlled studies have shown that NAC is potentially beneficial for treatment of compulsive and impulsive behaviors including pathological gambling and drug craving. I've seen no studies demonstrating that NAC is useful for treating alcoholism.
NAC Used to Treat Acetaminophen Overdose
NAC is used to treat acetaminophen (a common pain reliever) poisoning as well as chronic bronchitis and may be useful in treating or preventing a number of conditions ranging from heart attacks and strokes in people with kidney disease.
Remember to take your NAC with ALA to get your glutathione up. We typically use BetterGenix NAC 500mg and Protocol for Life Balance Alpha-Lipoic Acid 250 mg. Take one to four per day of each is typical for most people. If you are working on some of OCD, try to find a knowledgeable psychiatrist to help you through that process.
Some studies have shown promise in treating problems such as OCD in children that haven't responded to other therapies.
NAC and OCD
NAC is also being studied as a treatment for OCD in children. That study, at Yale University, is focusing on children ages eight to 17 who haven't shown improvement after using today's standard pediatric OCD treatment: cognitive behavior therapy and serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants.
In adults, OCD is also treated with psychotherapy and drugs including SSRIs. If that strategy doesn't work, an older antidepressant called clomipramine (Anafranil) may be prescribed. Many practitioners now recommend taking fish oil supplements, because the omega-3 fatty acids they provide are effective in a wide range of psychological conditions. Taking two to four grams per day may help. Researchers are also looking at whether psilocybin, the active component in psychedelic mushrooms, taken in carefully controlled conditions, can help curb OCD.
