You Might Want to Stock Up On NAC (if you... - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

26,582 members27,897 posts

You Might Want to Stock Up On NAC (if you use it)

Bolt_Upright profile image
14 Replies

I'm not saying NAC is useful. Just that the FDA seems to be inching ever closer to banning it (I think the drug companies figured out that it might work for some things so they want to get a "for use" patent [I think orphan drugs can be re-patented for new purposes and the money can be made]).

I just noticed things may be heating up again:

A U.S. congressman has requested FDA answer several questions regarding the agency’s “sudden change of policy” outlined in 2020 warning letters to dietary supplement firms marketing NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine) in their products. naturalproductsinsider.com/...

The Natural Products Association (NPA) has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Maryland requesting the Food and Drug Administration cease its “unlawful retroactive application of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” against N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). nutraingredients-usa.com/Ar...

Written by
Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
14 Replies
kevowpd profile image
kevowpd

Have you any interesting research to hand on the efficacy of oral NAC, Bolt?

The trial that attracted some attention a while back used injections with a small oral top up. I have a suspicion that the injectins were doing the heavy lifting and that the oral consumption was doing very little. I own a bunch of bottles of it since I panic bought earlier this year, but I don't know if it's effective. Also not entirely convinced it's safe, either.

Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright in reply tokevowpd

I am about where you are. I have not seen anything since the 2019 study. It is cheap enough that I would rather have a year's supply and not use it than have none and have some miracle report come out.

Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright in reply toBolt_Upright

But I am using mine. 1200 mg at night with Taurine.

Jo692 profile image
Jo692

Hello, sorry to butt in on this conversation but I have not come across NAC before . Is there anything on files as to how it is used and the benefits, if any please?

Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright in reply toJo692

There is this report, but they used both oral NAC and IV: N-Acetyl Cysteine Is Associated With Dopaminergic Improvement in Parkinson's Disease

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/312...

"Abstract

This study assessed the biological and clinical effects in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), the prodrug to l-cysteine, a precursor to the natural biological antioxidant glutathione. Forty-two patients with PD were randomized to either weekly intravenous infusions of NAC (50 mg/kg) plus oral doses (500 mg twice per day) for 3 months or standard of care only. Participants received prebrain and postbrain imaging with ioflupane (DaTscan) to measure dopamine transporter (DAT) binding. In the NAC group, significantly increased DAT binding was found in the caudate and putamen (mean increase from 3.4% to 8.3%) compared with controls (P < 0.05), along with significantly improved PD symptoms (P < 0.0001). The results suggest NAC may positively affect the dopaminergic system in patients with PD, with corresponding positive clinical effects. Larger scale studies are warranted."

I'm not sold on it, but I don't want the government taking the option off the table.

Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright in reply toJo692

There is this also: This paper indicates oral NAC (N-acetylcysteine) 6000 mg a day actually made PK symptoms worse.

Repeated-dose Oral N-acetylcysteine in Parkinson Disease: Pharmacokinetics and Effect on Brain Glutathione and Oxidative Stress

Published online 2017 Sep 22

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Canddy profile image
Canddy

This study is supposed to read out soon.....

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

bassofspades profile image
bassofspades

I used to eat that stuff like candy. Didn't really feel like it was all that it was promised to be as far as pd relief goes. A better option may be undenatured cold processed whey protein isolate, which is a great source of cysteine, the precursor to Glutathione.

Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright in reply tobassofspades

Interesting. Any idea on dosing please?

amazon.com/Raw-Grass-Fed-Wh...

bassofspades profile image
bassofspades in reply toBolt_Upright

One scoop in your favorite smoothie before exercise. Usually it comes with a scooper.

bassofspades profile image
bassofspades in reply toBolt_Upright

That's whey concentrate, which has less bcaa's than isolate. amazon.com/Muscle-Feast-Abs...

This is good. Grass fed and good quality

Boscoejean profile image
Boscoejean

fairly recent information on what might be happening with regard to NAC: "FDA last year asserted in warning letters that NAC couldn’t be lawfully marketed in dietary supplements because it was first studied as a drug in 1963. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) made legal arguments challenging the agency’s position in a 2020 letter to FDA." naturalproductsinsider.com/...

Discogs_discogs profile image
Discogs_discogs

This thread has diverged into two topics: (1) Will NAC be banned?; and (2) Is there really any evidence to support the use of NAC for PD anyways? It sounds like there has only been one NAC study done on humans for PD. Is that correct? Regardless, does anyone here actually FEEL as though NAC has concretely helped them?

Bolt_Upright profile image
Bolt_Upright in reply toDiscogs_discogs

Great question, and I don't have an answer, but I should add another wrinkle:

I have read that NAC and Taurine work better together also. So I take 1200 mg of NAC with 1000 mg of Taurine about an hour before I go to bed.

Taurine and its analogs in neurological disorders: Focus on therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms 2019: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/a... The combination of a subeffective dose of taurine and low and subeffective doses of N-acetyl cysteine afforded better cytoprotection against rotenone induction than taurine treatment alone and action may be mediated via anti-oxidative mechanisms [86].

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Parkin, glutamate, NAC, mitophagy

Prompted by a new Blaylock paper and discussion, I browsed the PD glutamate literature...
aspergerian profile image

Supplements, nootropics, vitamins, herbs: how do they interact? which are not compatible, which work synergistically and timing?

Sept. 7, 2021: I’m adding this preface. Thank you for your responses! I did not anticipate this!...

When does supplementation become toxic or counter-productive?

My Dear Fellow Adventurers, Firstly, thank you for the wealth of information and inspiration -...
Jdig profile image

Doctor with PD

The author says "I’ve had Parkinson’s disease foro over 15 years... but you wouldn’tk know it by...
Farooqji profile image

Updated x2: NAC May Mitigate Coronavirus Severity, also Potential Risks

I wrote about a study indicating that NAC is beneficial in Parkinson's here:...
park_bear profile image

Moderation team

See all
CPT_Aleksandra profile image
CPT_AleksandraAdministrator
CPT_Anaya profile image
CPT_AnayaAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.