N-acetylcysteine Clinical Applications Oct 2024

[Bolt_Upright]

N-acetylcysteine Clinical Applications Oct 2024 - cureus.com/articles/311141-...

"Neurological Disorders

NAC appears to be protective against neurodegenerative illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis (MS). It may be useful as an adjuvant for these illnesses since it is a glutathione precursor with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [17,18].

Alzheimer's disease: NAC has been investigated in certain mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, and these investigations showed evidence that NAC treatment reduces oxidative damage in Alzheimer's disease [19,20]. Adair et al. [21] used NAC in a blinded placebo-controlled experiment in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. NAC therapy did not affect the key outcome indicators in people with clinically confirmed Alzheimer's disease. However, the findings may promote further research into NAC in Alzheimer's disease.

Parkinson’s disease: Dopamine may cause apoptosis in neuronal cell cultures, resulting in the loss of nigral cells in Parkinson's disease. Thiol-containing drugs, such as NAC, are very protective in cell cultures by reducing dopamine-induced cell death [22]. Over three months, a clinical study employing NAC as a weekly intravenous infusion and 500 mg orally twice a day dramatically reduced Parkinson's symptoms and enhanced dopamine binding in the brain, warranting additional research [23].

Multiple sclerosis: NAC reduces tumour necrosis factor toxicity, and in an animal model of multiple sclerosis, it prevents the development of multiple sclerosis-like pathology [24]. Ten multiple sclerosis patients were given NAC treatment for up to 16 months. Due to the relapsing-remitting nature of many MS patients, determining the effectiveness of NAC in a small sample without contemporaneous controls is problematic. However, two MS patients with a lengthy history of difficulties speaking had a very substantial improvement in their speech immediately after beginning to use NAC. Controlled studies are required to determine whether NAC can reduce the amount of MS exacerbations [25].

Stroke: Acrolein-mediated damage after stroke has been linked to stroke size in animal studies, and NAC has been demonstrated to diminish infarct size [26]. A recent randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial employing NAC 4 grams four times a day for 72 hours in the beginning (within 24 hours) of an ischemic stroke resulted in an improved outcome profile in both neurological impairment and disability at 90 days [27]."

(I take 1200 mg a day)

[MarionP]

Dopamine causes apoptosis?? Somebody is smoking some heavy sh**!!

As far as how much NAC to take, better talk to your internist at some point just to be safe. Can't live without kidneys.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to MarionP]

WebMD webmd.com/diet/health-benef... says NAC is good for the kidneys. There is a ton of good stuff on that page:

Proven benefits of NAC

At this time, there is only one scientifically proven benefit of NAC:

Treatment of acetaminophen overdose. By boosting levels of glutathione, NAC speeds up the breakdown of acetaminophen. You may be able to prevent liver or kidney damage if you get treatment within 8-10 hours of acetaminophen poisoning.

Go to the hospital if you or a loved one takes too much acetaminophen. A health professional may need to give you a high dose of the supplement through a vein in your arm.

Who should not take N-acetylcysteine?

Ask your doctor which supplements are right for you, but NAC may not not be safe for people who:

Bleed easily. NAC may raise your odds of bleeding problems if you have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia or you take blood-thinning drugs.

Have cystinuria. This disorder causes you to pee out a lot of cystine, which is related to cysteine. People with cystinuria are naturally more likely to form cystine kidney stones. These are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that buildup.

Take nitroglycerin. NAC can widen your blood vessels. This may further lower your blood pressure and cause serious headaches if you take nitroglycerin regularly.

Dose:

These supplements have low bioavailability, which means they are not well-absorbed by the body at low doses. When used in medical treatment, the typical recommendation for NAC is between 600 and 1,800 milligrams.

In some studies, researchers have people take up to 3,000 milligrams a day, divided into two or three doses.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

my functional medicine doctor took me off and AC and put me on glutathione. Now I’m confused.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Smittybear7]

Well... they are a doctor and I am a high school graduate that Google's things.

[Sydney75]

My understanding is NAC needs to be taken on empty stomach for absorption.

[Zella23]

Thanks for posting this. It’s been in my husbands stack since I started researching into supplements that might help PD.

He takes 600 mgs a day!

[JayPwP in reply to Zella23]

How has he benefitted?

[Zella23 in reply to JayPwP]

Initially I was recommended NAC by my brother, as I suffer from respiratory issues. He was using a medication in France for similar problems so I researched into it.

I read that it is recommended for respiratory problems, my husband was frequently coughing and was told it was the PD. NAC stopped it. He was also borderline diabetic, I read it may benefit insulin resistance. It is a precursor to Glutathione, an important antioxidant. He is now no longer borderline diabetic. It may improve the immune system. I can’t prove it is because of the NAC but maybe it is. He seems to be doing Ok at the moment.

[JayPwP in reply to Zella23]

Great! May he keep receiving continuous benefits 🙏

[JayPwP]

Thank you Bolt...

A timely reminder to restart NAC.

[parkie13 in reply to JayPwP]

You said restart, do you remember any benefits? Thanks

[JayPwP in reply to parkie13]

I took it for a few days then stopped. Too short a time to notice any benefit

[jocelyng]

I was in a NAC study here at Jefferson University Hospital here in Philly last year. Once a week, I got an IV drip (one bag based on my weight) and then capsules on the other days. I never heard that it had to be taken on an empty stomach. Sadly, it did nothing for me, so I stopped after three months.

[JayPwP in reply to jocelyng]

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

neurosciencenews.com/parkin...

Were you part of this study?

I believe the researchers performed a DAT scan at baseline and after 3 months.

Did you get the scan?

[JayPwP]

I understand that NAC is best taken on empty stomach, but is it ok to take it, maybe an hour, post dinner? I mean better than not taking any at all

Also is it ok to take after eating meat or other plant proteins?

[jocelyng in reply to JayPwP]

I got a baseline scan six months before I started. Then another one when I started. Since I only been on a three months, I didn’t get the third one. I don’t recall them saying anything about restrictions food, etc. I used to just take it in the morning when I took all my other pills.

[JayPwP in reply to jocelyng]

Thank you 🙏

[Ghmac]

Bolt - can you explain why you chose NAC verses NAC+? Thank you

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Ghmac]

I had never heard of NAC+. I see that NAC+ delivers these incredible benefits in a tablet formulated with riboflavin and calcium for added absorption.

I don't know. As I recall, the studies I read used NAC. I like things simple.

[Ghmac in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Thank you for your reply

[JayPwP]

Bolt,

I am going to put PD related NAC research links in this thread. Hope you don't mind? 🙏

[Bolt_Upright in reply to JayPwP]

Go for it!

[JayPwP]

Rat study

N-Acetylcysteine Treatment May Compensate Motor Impairments through Dopaminergic Transmission Modulation in a Striatal 6-Hydroxydopamine Parkinson’s Disease Rat Model

mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/6/125....

[JayPwP]

I cant find any follow up after the promising Jefferson study 8 years ago.

Any idea what happened?

[Gcf51]

I have been taking NAC for as long as I can remember. It did not keep me from being diagnosed with PD. That said, it did not stop progression, whether it slow it I can't say.

[Chicoman in reply to Gcf51]

I agree, I’ve been taking NAC got close to 10 years. Still recently diagnosed with PD. I ago can’t say if its help slow the progression yet, but will report as I travel on this journey.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Chicoman]

How much NAC have you been taking?

[Chicoman in reply to Bolt_Upright]

1,200 mg min sometimes more (1800-2400mg) usually 600 morning and 600-1200 mg at night

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Chicoman]

Thanks. I take 1200 mg at night.

[JayPwP]

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in neurological disorders: mechanisms of action and therapeutic opportunities

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

[JayPwP]

@Everyone

What is your suggestion, which option and why:

1. NAC

2. NAC and Glycine

3. NAC and Glycine and L-Glutamine

Also please share your recommended doses and the reason for the doses?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to JayPwP]

I used to take Glycine but stopped. If you read all the way through my thread fro 4 years ago:

Time to Cut Glycine from my Stack? (this would include GlyNAC) healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

There is a lot of back and forth, but I eventually settled on the risk is not worth it:

I WANT to take Glycine, I really do. Just can't get past this:

rhyobrain.blogspot.com/2020...

High glycine levels are excitotoxic; magnesium can mitigate glycine excitoxicity. Some hypotheses on the therapeutic action of Li relate to its interactions with Mg, either through competitive binding or Li binding in complexes with Mg. Would these types of interactions have an impact on Mg's ability to mitigate glycine excitotoxicity?

Glycine has also been implicated in demyelination.

[JayPwP in reply to Bolt_Upright]

There are two sides to a coin. I have seen your post and the blog as well, however my rationale is if Glycine and NAC are being used for Glutathione synthesis which is a more urgent requirement of the PD Brain (points 4 & 5 here healthunlocked.com/cure-par..., there wouldn't be enough Glycine left to do the damage as mentioned.

Don't you think the benefits outweigh the risks? Isn't that the deciding factor with everything, including supplements?

[JayPwP]

N-acetylcysteine increases dopamine release and prevents the deleterious effects of 6-OHDA on the expression of VMAT2, α-synuclein, and tyrosine hydroxylase

tandfonline.com/doi/full/10...