N-Acetyl Cysteine Benefits: Should You Be Taking an NAC Supplement?

There’s been a bit of controversy around N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) over the decades. NAC is the supplement form of the amino acid cysteine. After being approved as a new medication in 1963, the FDA sent out warning letters that NAC could no longer be marketed as a dietary supplement. However, in 2022 the FDA finally realized the fantastic N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits. It changed its stance and recognized NAC as a dietary supplement.

This is great news because research shows N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits impact everything from the liver, respiratory health, brain health, gut health, and so much more. I’ll tell you about all the N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits in just a minute. We’ll also get into the benefits of an NAC supplement. First, let’s talk more about cysteine.

Cysteine Is the Precursor of N-Acetyl Cysteine

N-Acetyl Cysteine comes from the amino acid L-cysteine, a semi-essential amino acid. The reason it’s considered semi-essential is that NAC can be made from the non-essential amino acids serine and methionine. These two amino acids are produced naturally in the body.

However, your body may be low on these two amino acids because of a poor diet, stress, or toxin exposure. When this happens, supplementation is the only way to provide your body with optimal amounts of cysteine. You could also eat high-protein foods like chicken, beef, pork, and wild-caught seafood.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is the supplement form of cysteine. Like cysteine, NAC bonds with glycine and glutamine to create glutathione. Glutathione is a potent free radical scavenger your body naturally produces. One of NAC’s most incredible benefits is its ability to replenish glutathione stores.

However, there are many more N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits. Let’s talk more about the wide range of benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine.

Six Benefits of NAC Supplement 

NAC is well-known for helping the body produce glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. Glutathione supports the immune system. It also protects cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals. This makes it crucial to support heart, brain, and liver health. Here are six benefits of an NAC supplement:

NAC Supports Liver Health

One of the essential benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine is supporting liver health. The liver is one of your body’s most important organs. Did you know it’s the only organ that can lose up to 75% of its mass and regrow to its full size? Amazing!

Your body has many systems in place to remove waste. In a healthy person, the kidneys, skin, lungs, and liver work together to regulate the flow of toxins, metals, pollutants, alcohol, caffeine, and medications.

However, constant exposure to toxins from the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, and our beauty products can cause this system to be overworked. Too much toxic exposure causes your body’s overworked systems to struggle to flush these substances out of your body.

NAC has been shown to have several benefits for the liver. They’re all tied to glutathione production, which happens in the liver. The increased production of glutathione supports the liver’s natural detoxification process. It helps to protect liver cells from oxidative stress. This can occur due to factors such as alcohol, viral infections, or exposure to toxins.

NAC Supports Respiratory Health

You might have heard N-Acetyl Cysteine mentioned as a potential treatment for COVID-19. This is because of its respiratory health benefits. 

One way NAC supports respiratory health is that it breaks up and dissolves mucus in the airways. (1) N-Acetyl Cysteine also reduces oxidative stress in the respiratory system. Oxidative stress contributes to inflammation in the lungs and can damage lung tissue.

N-Acetyl Cysteine also supports your immune system, which helps fight off viruses and bacteria in the respiratory system. Let’s talk more about N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits for your immune system. 

NAC Facilitates an Immune System Response

Inflammation is your immune system’s response to a foreign invader. Acute inflammation is a critical weapon. It protects you against severe and immediate stressors. 

However, a diet full of inflammatory foods, environmental toxins, leaky gut, or chronic stress can cause your immune system to misfire. It can mistakenly begin attacking healthy tissue.

A benefit of N-Acetyl Cysteine is that it promotes a healthy inflammatory response. It does this by reducing the damage caused by oxidative stress, which is caused by free radicals. Remember, NAC is a precursor to glutathione, your body’s most potent free radical scavenger.

Another way NAC helps your immune system is by keeping inflammation in check. It reduces the production of certain inflammatory proteins, like IL-6 and TNF-alpha. (2) These two proteins can cause problems when they get out of control. This is especially helpful for conditions like COVID-19, where the immune system can go into overdrive and cause severe lung inflammation.

NAC also boosts your immune system by increasing T cells. These are like your body's soldiers. They fight off infections and keep you healthy.

NAC Supports Brain Health

The key to understanding the N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits lies in its role as a building block for glutathione. Glutathione’s main job is to combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Oxidative stress is at the root of many chronic illnesses, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. It is also linked to a range of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

One way N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits brain health is by promoting the function of several key neurotransmitters in the brain, such as glutamate and dopamine. These impact learning, memory, and mood. This may be particularly beneficial for people with conditions such as depression and addiction. These two conditions are associated with imbalances in neurotransmitter function.

To reap the benefits of an NAC supplement, you could try NeuroLive™. I formulated NeuroLive™ to support memory, learning, and cognitive function. Not only does it contain N-Acetyl Cysteine, but NeuroLive™ also contains optimal amounts of Vitamin B6 in its co-enzyme form. This supports optimal neurotransmitter balance and cognitive function.

NAC Promotes Estrogen Balance

Did you know your liver plays a big role in keeping your estrogen levels balanced? It’s where estrogen gets processed and transformed so your body can use it effectively. 

After estrogen is created in various tissues - with help from an enzyme called aromatase - the liver helps release it into your bloodstream. 

N-Acetyl Cysteine promotes estrogen balance by supporting liver function and reducing oxidative stress. If the liver is not functioning correctly, it cannot metabolize estrogen effectively, leading to hormone imbalances.

As I mentioned earlier, NAC supports your liver by boosting glutathione levels. This helps protect your liver from damage caused by oxidative stress and supports its detoxification processes. Why does this matter for estrogen balance? Because oxidative stress can harm your ovaries and lower estrogen production.

On top of that, studies show that NAC can block the activity of an enzyme called aromatase. This enzyme turns testosterone into estrogen, which can be a problem for people with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Since PCOS is often linked to high testosterone and estrogen imbalances, NAC can be a helpful tool in managing these issues.

NAC Is a Biofilm Disruptor

Finally, one of the amazing N-Acetyl Cysteine benefits is that it supports the health of the gut mucosa. This is the inner lining of the gut. A healthy gut mucosa is vital for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.

Your gut is naturally lined with mucus that lubricates and protects it. However, when inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or Candida overgrowth damages your gut wall, the mucus wall can also be disrupted. 

Damaged mucus allows bacterial biofilms to attach to the gut cell wall. There, it causes further damage and increases the likelihood of leaky gut.

Biofilm formation begins when microorganisms attach to the surface of an object in a moist environment. Once attached, they begin to reproduce. They spread along the surface and connect by secreting a slimy, glue-like substance.

The sticky shield around these harmful bacteria is hard to break through. Antibiotics and disinfectants often aren’t enough to get rid of them. This is where biofilm disruptors come in.

Because of its antimicrobial properties, N-Acetyl Cysteine is a powerful tool for disrupting a biofilm. (3) Another way to take advantage of the benefits of NAC supplements is with Microb-Clear®.  This custom-formulated supplement offers a powerful blend of botanical extracts, minerals, and fatty acids to support microbe balance in the GI tract.

Microb-Clear® helps create the perfect environment for healthy probiotics to thrive. By making it harder for harmful, imbalanced microorganisms to survive, it supports a balanced and healthy gut for beneficial probiotic bacteria.

You can’t ignore the amazing benefits of NAC supplements for optimal health. However, there is some debate surrounding this dietary supplement.

Why Is Nac Controversial?

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is considered controversial because it helps produce glutamate, a neurotransmitter. Some researchers believe this makes NAC promising for treating addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

However, others worry that boosting glutamate could be harmful. Too much glutamate activity is linked to certain neurological disorders.

Another debate is over the effectiveness of NAC. Some studies have suggested that it may be helpful for conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder. However, others have found no significant benefit.

It is important to note that the controversy is centered around NAC’s benefits for mental health. More research is done every day, and it is promising. Overall, the benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine are hard to ignore due to its relationship with glutathione production.

The Final Word on N-Acetyl Cysteine Benefits 

I’m so glad the FDA finally recognized the benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine as a dietary supplement. The benefits of an NAC supplement include reducing oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This impacts many of your body’s systems, including your liver, respiratory system, brain function, and immune system.

Functional medicine has known about the benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine for decades. NAC is so beneficial I’ve included it in NeuroLive™ to support brain health and Microb-Clear® to create a favorable environment for beneficial probiotics in your gut microbiome.

Including an NAC supplement in your routine is a simple yet effective way to support your overall health. Whether you want to strengthen your immune system, improve your gut health or boost brain function, N-Acetyl Cysteine may help you. The science-backed benefits of an NAC supplement make it a valuable addition to your wellness toolkit!