NAC Health Benefits
Antioxidant
NAC works to help protect the cell from toxins created both by normal biological processes and from external poisons. For example, acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdoses are treated with IV NAC due its liver protecting properties.
Respiratory Health
NAC has been used by physicians for many years to help with conditions like sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. NAC appears to thin the mucous allowing the body to clear this excess mucous more easily.
Flu (Influenza)
People who take NAC still can contract the flu viruses but have markedly lighter symptoms than those who don't. In some cases, people will still get the flu, but it will be so mild that symptoms are not obvious.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetes can affect both nerves and kidneys. Application of NAC has been shown in some studies that both of these can improve somewhat. The studies aren't all conclusive but sometimes the studies don't use enough to be a therapeutic dose like 1500 to 2000 mg per day.
Eye Health
NAC has been shown to be helpful in many cases of cataracts and macular degeneration. Both of these conditions are often closely linked to oxidative stress, the type of NAC is good at.
Heart Health
Homocysteine is an inflammatory marker and has been linked to some types of heart damage. NAC has been shown in some studies to lower homocysteine levels.
Environmental Toxin Damage
Your liver used glutathione in several pathways to help manage toxins from external or internal sources. We are exposed to about 400,000 chemicals that weren't around a couple of hundred years ago. Keeping your NAC levels up will help your body keep your glutathione levels ready to deal with this onslaught of chemicals.
Multiple Sclerosis
Some evidence exists that glutathione can slow the degeneration from MS. More research is I the works but, in the meantime, I don't see the danger in keeping your glutathione at healthy levels.
Other Conditions
I have seen reports of help with Parkinsons. From what I know today, I can see how glutathione and NAC could help with some cases of Parkinsonian syndrome (PS). PS is like Parkinson's but tends to have a much slower progression rate. True Parkinson's Disease is usually a fairly rapid progressing disorder and needs specific treatment in the early stages to do well.
Precautions and Comments
As long as NAC is taken according to the recommended dose, there have been no reported side effects, and it is regarded as a safe supplement. However, when taken in very high doses NAC might cause certain gastrointestinal issues including pain, vomiting, rash and fever.
Paradoxical reactions are possible. In certain healthy individuals, it is possible for NAC taken in high doses to act as a pro-oxidant as opposed to an anti-oxidant and actually reduce glutathione levels rather than increase them. Some caution should therefore be exercised by healthy individuals before taking NAC supplements.
There is insufficient scientific data regarding their safety for pregnant women or nursing mothers so caution should be exercised.
There are no known drug interactions with NAC.
Supplementing with NAC over an extended period leads to the excretion of copper through the urine. If you are using it over the long term, you should add copper and zinc supplements to your daily treatment regimen.
BetterGenix NAC
Protocol NAC
