What is an NAC Supplement? (And Five Health Benefits)

Before we understand what an NAC supplement is, let’s decode NAC. NAC stands for N-Acetyl Cysteine. It is a supplement form of cysteine. 

Cysteine is categorized as a semi-essential amino acid. It is semi-essential because your body can produce it from other amino acids like serine and methionine [1]. 

Can you suffer from NAC deficiency?

As NAC can be obtained from amino acids like serine and methionine, you only have a deficiency when your dietary intake of serine and methionine is low. 

You can obtain cysteine from high-protein foods like cheese, turkey, chicken, eggs, legumes, sunflower seeds, etc. 

It is essential to consume the proper levels of NAC for a variety of reasons, including – refilling the levels of the most potent antioxidant in our body – glutathione.

These amino acids help you deal with chronic respiratory conditions, brain health, and fertility. 

So, what is an NAC supplement?

NAC supplements contain NAC as the key ingredient + a binding agent. It is consumed to protect against various health concerns like:

• Alcohol and substance use disorder
• Heart disease
• Respiratory disease
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

Let’s understand the various benefits of NAC supplements. 

What is the NAC supplement used for?

NAC supplement offers a range of benefits, including:

1. Detoxifies and prevents liver and kidney damage

NAC helps you detoxify your body. It can also help you deal with the harmful effects of environmental toxins and drugs.

NAC is often recommended to people who have had acetaminophen overdose to prevent liver and kidney damage.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the usage of NAC for treating acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning [2]. 

2. NAC Supplements relieve symptoms of respiratory systems

Since NAC acts as an antioxidant, it helps you relieve the symptoms of respiratory conditions by loosening mucus in your air passageways. It also works by reducing inflammation in your lung tissue and bronchial tubes. NAC supplements alleviate COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) symptoms, lung decline, and exacerbations [3]. 

3. NAC supplements enhance brain function

NAC works by improving brain health. It is found to positively affect people with conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

It also helps in treating addictive behaviors and psychiatric disorders. Some studies also reveal that NAC can improve bipolar disorder and depression symptoms [4]. 

4. NAC supplements improve fertility

NAC could help improve fertility in both women and men. A study found that NAC and selenium both enhanced semen quality in men. NAC is also effective in improving fertility in women with PCOS [5]. 

5. NAC supplements can improve immunity

NAC is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It is widely used in clinical practice for people suffering from COVID-19. 

Infectious Diseases published a study in 2021 demonstrating the effects of NAC supplements.

It was found that supplementing 600mg NAC orally twice daily for about 14 days reduced disease progression significantly. It also decreased the need for intubation and mortality [6]. 

However, more research is needed to reach a solid conclusion, and two clinical trials are currently underway. 

What is the correct NAC supplement dosage?

So, what is the best NAC supplement? Oral NAC supplements are available over the counter in various forms, including:

• Powders
• Tablets
• Softgels
• Capsules
• Effervescence

More often than not, a NAC supplement is sold in 500-mg dosages. 

However, you can also find some as high as 1,200mg. Ideally, you should take 1-4 doses daily for 500-3,000mg. It is highly recommended to consult your health practitioner for the exact prescriptions. 

It is essential to mention that the FDA does not regulate supplements. Hence, there are no applicable universal guidelines on NAC usage. 

What happens if you overdose on NAC?

Although no reports prove the toxicity of oral NAC supplementation, it can lead to side effects. 

• Blood thinners: NAC may contribute to bleeding if you are on blood thinners.
• Angina medications: NAC may intensify its effects if you take nitrates to treat angina. These multiplied effects could lead to fainting, dizziness, headaches, and lightheadedness. 
• Diabetes: if you take NAC with diabetes medication, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia.

Conclusion

As is evident, NAC supplements help with issues related to liver and kidney, COVID-19, fertility, respiratory system, and more. However, care should be taken that you consume NAC supplements from a reputed manufacturer. Also, consult your health practitioner before consuming to ensure minimal side effects. 

References:

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 12035, Acetylcysteine. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acetylcysteine. Accessed Apr. 19, 2022.
2. Ershad M, Naji A, Vearrier D. N Acetylcysteine. [Updated 2021 Jun 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537183/
3. Sanguinetti CM. N-acetylcysteine in COPD: why, how, and when?. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2016;11:8. Published 2016 Feb 3. doi:10.1186/s40248-016-0039-2
4. Safarinejad MR, Safarinejad S. Efficacy of selenium and/or N-acetyl-cysteine for improving semen parameters in infertile men: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study. J Urol. 2009 Feb;181(2):741-51. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2008.10.015. Epub 2008 Dec 16. PMID: 19091331.
5. Assimakopoulos SF, Aretha D, Komninos D, Dimitropoulou D, Lagadinou M, Leonidou L, Oikonomou I, Mouzaki A, Marangos M. N-acetyl-cysteine reduces the risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a two-center retrospective cohort study. Infect Dis (Lond). 2021 Nov;53(11):847-854. doi: 10.1080/23744235.2021.1945675. Epub 2021 Jun 29. PMID: 34182881.