N-Acetyl Cysteine

Other Names: Acetyl Cysteine, Acétyl Cystéine, Acetylcysteine, Acétylcystéine, Chlorhydrate de Cystéine, Cysteine, Cystéine, Cysteine Hydrochloride, Cystine, Hydrochlorure de Cystéine, L-Cysteine, L-Cystéine, L-Cysteine HCl, L-Cystéine HCl, NAC, N-Acetil Cisteína, N-Acetyl-B-Cysteine, N-Acétyl Cystéine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, N-Acétyl-L-Cystéine, N-Acetylcysteine, N-Acétylcystéine.
N-acetyl cysteine comes from the amino acid L-cysteine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. N-acetyl cysteine has many uses as medicine.
See also :

• L-Cysteine
• Glutathione

Special Precautions of N-Acetyl Cysteine

• N-acetyl cysteine is LIKELY SAFE for most adults, when used as a prescription medication. It can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation. Rarely, it can cause rashes, fever, headache, drowsiness, low blood pressure, and liver problems.
• When inhaled (breathed into the lungs), it can also cause swelling in the mouth, runny nose, drowsiness, clamminess, and chest tightness.
• N-acetyl cysteine has an unpleasant odor that may make it hard to take.
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding: N-acetyl cysteine is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth, delivered through a hole in the windpipe, or breathed in. N-acetyl cysteine crosses the placenta, but there is no evidence so far linking it with harm to the unborn child or mother. However, N-acetyl cysteine should only be used in pregnant women when clearly needed, such as in cases of acetaminophen toxicity.
• Allergy: Don’t use N-acetyl cysteine if you are allergic to acetyl cysteine.
• Asthma: There is a concern that N-acetyl cysteine might cause bronchospasm in people with asthma if inhaled or taken by mouth or through a tube in the windpipe. If you take N-acetyl cysteine and have asthma, you should be monitored by your healthcare provider.
• Nitroglycerin interacts with N-ACETYL CYSTEINE

Benefits and uses of N-Acetyl Cysteine are

N-acetyl-cysteine is converted by the body into an amino acid called cysteine. In turn, cysteine helps produce glutathione, an antioxidant that plays a key role in regulating many cellular functions and helps keep the immune system in check. Proponents claim that taking N-acetylcysteine supplements can protect against a wide range of health problems.

• Detox : It helps the body produce glutathione, another amino acid which acts as a detoxifying agent to most of the organs of the body, essentially removing things like toxic heavy metals and other toxins that interfere with proper functionality.
• bronchitis : N-Acetylcysteine may help keep chronic bronchitis in check, according to a 2000 report in Clinical Therapeutics. Looking at data from eight clinical trials, the report's authors found that long-term use of N-acetylcysteine may help prevent acute flare-ups of chronic bronchitis and, in turn, lower healthcare costs.
• diabetes : N-Acetylcysteine may aid in diabetes management, suggests a 2006 study from the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology. Involving 32 patients with type 2 diabetes and 15 healthy controls, the study found that three months of treatment with N-acetylcysteine helped regulate glutathione levels in diabetes patients. The study's authors suggest that regulating glutathione levels may help protect against diabetic complications brought on by free radical-induced damage.
• Sinusitis : NAC has the unique ability to detoxify and dissolve unhealthy, embedded mucus in your sinuses.
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD): In patients with stable, moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), N-acetylcysteine may help improve physical performance. For a 2009 study published in the journal Chest, 24 COPD patients took either N-acetylcysteine or a placebo daily for six weeks. After taking a two-break (in order to eliminate N-acetylcysteine from the bodies of participants in the treatment group), the study participants were switched over to the alternate therapy for an additional six weeks. Study results indicated that N-acetylcysteine helped improve several markers of respiratory health, such as lung capacity and exercise endurance.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome : N-Acetylcysteine may help treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a 2007 study in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. For one menstrual cycle, 573 PCOS patients were treated with clomiphene citrate (a drug commonly used to induce ovulation). Next, 470 of these patients took a combination of N-acetylcysteine and clomiphene citrate for another menstrual cycle. Study results revealed that ovulation rates improved significantly after the addition of N-acetylcysteine.
• cirrhosis
• cystic fibrosis : N-Acetylcysteine may have a slightly beneficial effect on lung function among people with cystic fibrosis, according to a 1999 report in Acta Paediatrica. Sizing up data from 23 studies, the report's authors concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the use of N-Acetylcysteine in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. However, the report's authors noted that long-term use of N-Acetylcysteine may lead to some improvement in lung function for cystic fibrosis patients.
• high cholesterol
• HIV and AIDS
• Lou Gehrig's disease
• Hearing Loss : Loud noises cause free radical cell damage. NAC shows protective effects when it comes to noise-induced hearing loss.
• Additionally, some proponents claim that N-acetylcysteine can help prevent cancer.
• N-acetyl-cysteine and lipoic acid have been shown to be protective and counteract against acrylamides toxicity.

Food Sources of N-Acetyl Cysteine

• Animal Protein Sources : NAC converts into cysteine. Cysteine is a nonessential amino acid produced by the body. However, it requires the essential amino acid methionine to do this, so some biologists consider cysteine an essential amino acid, as well. Cysteine is primarily found in animal protein, along with the other ten essential amino acids. Meats such as pork, chicken, sausage, turkey and duck all contain the amino acid cysteine. Fish and lunch meats also contain cysteine. Dairy sources of cysteine include ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and eggs.
• Plant Sources : Cysteine can be found in some plant sources for vegetarians and vegans. Cysteine is found in granola and oat flakes. Vegetables like broccoli, red pepper and onion are significant sources of cysteine. Other plant sources include bananas, garlic, soy beans, linseed and wheat germ. Cysteine and methionine are important amino acids, but deficiency is relatively rare. Low levels of cysteine can cause slow growth in children and lowered immunity. Muscle loss, weakness, apathy and liver damage may also be a result of low cysteine in the diet.