N-Acetyl advice

[Flecmac]

Hi all. Is there any truth in N-Acetyl for Hashimotos? If so where’s best to buy it from. Thanks 😊

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There are several compounds whose names start N-acetyl... And they can be very different to each other.

Which do you mean?

[Flecmac in reply to helvella]

Thanks Helvella and Greygoose.I read Isabella Wentz latest article and wondered if it could help. I’ve no idea whether it’s worth a try.

Here’s what she said........

A few years ago, I was asked: “If the supplement police came to your house and said you had to give up all but one of your supplements, which supplement would you keep, and why?”

My answer: N-Acetyl Cysteine (also known as NAC for short), because it has numerous benefits on multiple body systems!

Research has shown that NAC can help to reduce thyroid antibodies. It also supports our detoxification pathways (which are usually impaired in Hashimoto’s), as well as gut function. Additionally, it can help asthma, osteoporosis, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and other concerns often seen in those with Hashimoto’s.

[Flecmac in reply to helvella]

Cysteine.

[greygoose]

What do you expect it to do for Hashi's?

[Flecmac in reply to greygoose]

Isabella Wentz in her latest article said as above on my reply to Helvella.Thanks. 😊

[greygoose in reply to Flecmac]

Well, NAC didn't do anything for me. And reducing antibodies is a bit of a red herring, because even if you got rid of them, you'd still have Hashi's.

Whilst it didn't help me, it didn't do any harm, I don't think. So, the only way to know if it's going to help you is to try it.

[Flecmac in reply to greygoose]

Thank you 😊

[greygoose in reply to Flecmac]

You're welcome.

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

Hello GG, what did you do for Hashimoto's?

I had it, then also papillary-follicular thyroid cancer and primary hyperPARAthyroidism. Thyroid was removed 20 years ago for the cancer, also some parathyroids. I have one parathyroid left, that is again working overtime (adenoma), There is no localisation, an operation is very tricky (3rd time opening the throat).

I wonder if Hashimoto's can also be a factor in how you feel, even though the thyroid is removed and if there's anything you can do about it.

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

I didn't do anything specifically for Hashi's. I took thyroid hormone replacement for the resulting hypothyroidism and took supplements to optimise resulting nutritional deficiencies. I've tried NAC and CBD oil, and all sorts of other things to see if they helped me feel better - in fact, I'll try most things within reason, just to see what they do. But, I wouldn't say I did any of those things 'for Hashis'. I certainly did nothing with the aim of trying to reduce my antibodies, and wouldn't know if it had worked, anyway, because in France they will only test the antibodies once, and there's no private testing available.

If you have had your thyroid removed, the antibodies will go away because there can be no more attacks on the thyroid, therefore no traces of TPO or Tg in the blood, so the antibodies are no-longer needed. So, I don't see how Hashi's itself can be a factor in how you feel once the thyroid has gone. However, you could develop a different autoimmune disease of some kind, I suppose.

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. Could you clarify why cholesterol goes up when T3 is low? I read that on the site of HU this morning.

[tattybogle in reply to ITHY]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

"... Cardiovascular changes in hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism results are a mirror image of the cardiovascular symptoms and signs in hyperthyroidism.

Cardiac output is reduced, owing to decreases in heart rate and stroke volume. SVR is increased, with a reduction in blood volume, resulting in a narrow pulse pressure and reduced tissue perfusion.

In severe cases there may be a fibrinous pericardial effusion. Hypothyroidism results in elevated LDL (reduced hepatic clearance) and apolipoprotein B levels in up to 90 per cent of patients. CRP and diastolic BP may rise and contribute to an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis..."

[ITHY in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

Because good levels of T3 are necessary for the body to process cholesterol correctly.

Cholesterol is made in the liver, and the liver strives to keep levels stable. The more cholesterol you consume in food, the less the liver makes. The less you consume, the more the liver makes.

The cholesterol is then transported round the body in protein carriers (LDL and HDL), in the blood, to where it is needed. But, T3 is needed to acomplish this correctly. If T3 is low, the cholesterol carriers tend to mount up in the blood. And, it is these carriers that are measured when you have a 'cholesterol' blood test, not the actual cholesterol itself.

When T3 levels rise, the system starts to function correctly again, and the number of protein carriers in the blood reduces.

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for clarifying! After my thyroidectomy, cholesterol levels were up and the Prof. dr. said at the time that it was to be expected. I have started taking combination T4, T3 recently (I am desperate to feel better, but the hyperPARAthyroidism might be the culprit). After a while I stop for some time, it gives me palpitations. Maybe I should alternate, one day with T3, one day without.

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

No, you can't alternate T3, that won't work, for all sorts of reasons. One of them being the short half-life of T3. It's not like T4. How much T3 are you taking?

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

I take Novothyral; 100µg T4, 20µg. T3.

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

Ahhhhhh OK! That changes things. I'm not sure there is an equivilent in the US. You'd have to see a doctor and get both T4 and T3 on prescription. But, I don't live there, so not really sure. Hopefully, tonight, some US citizens will see this post and be able to give you more reliable information.

As to how long it will take to feel the loss of the T3, that's impossible for anyone to tell you, because it's a very individual thing. Sorry.

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

I live in Belgium. May be a time released T3 is a better option.

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry! Got you confused with someone else! Forget everything I said above.

Personally, I don't like Novothyral, and the like because of lack of flexibility. Seems a pretty stupid idea, really. Do you taking one tablet - i.e. 20 mcg T3? That might very well be a bit much for you. But there's not much you can do about it except split the tablet, and then there's no guarantee that you'll actually split the T3. It might all be bunched up in one corner, so to speak, rather than spread evenly across the tablet. So, it's possible that taking T4 and T3 in separate tablets might be better for you. If that's a possibility.

I'm not keen on time-released T3 tablets, either, because there's no guarantee how much is actually going to get absorbed. Depends on how well your bowels work! But, you might end up getting a load of T3 one day, and nothing the next. There's are so many variables. But, a reduced dose of ordinary T3 plus T4 might just well do the trick.

Have you tried NDT, by the way? Just out of curiosity.

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

NDT, I suppose that is made from animal thyroid? I contacted ERFA with the question if they could guarantee that the pigs used were being raised without additional hormones (etc.). They answered they could not guarantee that, so I decided I'd better not use it.

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

ok, just wondered. Not surprised they can't guarantee it because the raw ingredients they use must come from all over, and doubt they could keep track of it all.

So, synthetic T4 and T3 with slightly less T3 and as much T4 as you feel you need would probably be the best solution.

[ITHY in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, the endo suggested to cut the tablet in two and take one part in the morning and the other in the afternoon. But still at times I completely crash around 6 pm. There is a loss of quality of life... I think I'll try and buy a new thyroid (and a couple of parathyroids) somewhere 😉.

[greygoose in reply to ITHY]

Let me know if you find one. I haven't got a thyroid at all!

[humanbean]

I have taken n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on and off for years. I have never taken it for Hashi's.

I take it to help me keep my lungs clear of mucus which has been caused by a history of heavy smoking. (I no longer smoke.) NAC thins mucus and makes it easier to cough up. I have found I have to be careful though. If I take it too often I end up with sore, dry lungs. However, people with various lung diseases find it very helpful for keeping the lungs clear, and they take it daily.

I think the two main uses for NAC are for lung disease, and it gets used in hospitals for paracetamol overdose.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I use NAC as I have lung disease. I usually buy from ebay and have used a couple of brands, I look for one with no fillers or rice flour as the only excipient, eg

ebay.co.uk/itm/NAC-Suppleme...

ebay.co.uk/itm/283982245184...

This is another brand I've used

supplemented.co.uk/products...

I've found no difference between them and expensive brands don't seem to have any advantages.

[radd]

Flecmac,

NAC used to be very popular on the forum but has gone out of fashion. It's a generally good all rounder for anyone with inflammation except those with already high levels of sulphur as being a sulfar-based derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine will just drive sulphur levels higher.

I originally took it as a part of a heavy metal detox programme but now supplement in cycles to help treat oxidative damage from iron overload as NAC reduces systemic inflammation. It is the precursor to glutathione but can also act as a direct antioxidant in its own right.

Thyroid antibodies are effectively inflammation created to mop up after WBC’s have rampaged in our thyroid gland, and high levels can be further destructive as risk breeding further inflammation. NAC has the ability to not only help reduce/control this inflammation but to reduce/discourage further Hashi attacks & thyroid antibodies.

I also take it for osteoporosis that is extremely common in Hashi sufferers with high levels of inflammation (thyroid antibodies) that promote inflammatory cytokines within the bones osteoblasts effecting bone resorption. NAC has again been shown to reduce this inflammation and quell a highly reactivate immune response. It also has gastro-protective properties again regarding controlling inflammation.

.

Other members experiences.

healthunlocked.com/search/p....

.

NAC Helps Osteoporosis In Hashi Sufferers By reducing Inflammation.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/110...

.

NAC Reduces Osteoporosis Risk In People with Low Sex Steroids & High Oxidative Stress.

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

.

Even Used For COVID Sufferers

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

[jgelliss in reply to radd]

Great and very detailed explanation of NA C's benefits.

[Flecmac in reply to radd]

Thanks radd.Where is best to buy it from?

[alchemilla12 in reply to Flecmac]

try british-supplements.net/sea... use no fillers just the pure product

[Partner20]

I thought you must have been reading the latest communication from Isabella Wentz!! Dear old Isabella, she obviously has plenty of her NAC supplements to shift!!

[ITHY in reply to Partner20]

Yes, indeed. Her supplements are big business, and she thrives on it. Most of these internet, YouTube doctors plug their own 'stuff'. It makes me very suspicious.

[marvalrus in reply to ITHY]

Yes, most supplements are widely available. So when I read these types of sites, I find myself thinking that the information is really a sales pitch. They go on and on talking about facts that many on this site know all about, then mix it in with with what helped them, and lo and behold, they sell it. Her supplements are over-priced, too. She want's $50 but I can buy NAC on Swanson vitamins for $8.50.

On a side note, In the USA there's been controversy going on at the FDA that NAC should be a pharmaceutical (since it actually DOES help lung issues, among other things like Tylenol overdose in the ER). It's also Rx'd by big pharma as a kidney protector used for 3 days in a row at 9am before a procedure but in a vile of liquid. They tell patients to mix it in with Mountain Dew and chug it. (gag) Each vial cost $80. At current time, Amazon is no longer selling NAC until further notice, but any other site is selling it. So it's very curious what the real motivation is. FDA and Big pharma don't like it when something is proven helpful.

I've also read NAC helps lower cortisol, but the jury is still out. Also helps liver issues. I do know that it helps reduce lung mucus, clear the lungs. It seems beneficial in many ways. My integrative doctor's office put a notice out at the beginning of Covid and NAC was on the list.

[alchemilla12 in reply to marvalrus]

the FDA have now reversed their decision to take it off the shelves as there are " no obvious safety issues"

[marvalrus in reply to alchemilla12]

Can you give me a link to that? The most recent thing I found is that it's still being looked into. The FDA still claims it is a drug.

[alchemilla12 in reply to marvalrus]

Hi yes I got the updated info from a Dr Michael Murray newsletter last week but dont know how to link that e mail.Ive copied a small amount of the e mail but you could probably access the full info from his website:

"Anyway, the FDA’s decision on March 31, 2022 allows NAC to remain in the market place. Here are the two key takeaways from the decision:

The FDA, at this time, maintains the position that NAC is a drug, and not a dietary supplement.

Because of the tremendous safety of NAC, however, the FDA will allow NAC to be sold until a final decision is made on its status as a dietary supplement."

[alchemilla12 in reply to marvalrus]

yes they do still claim its a drug but there is no requirement to remove it from the shelves so far

[radd in reply to Partner20]

🤣

[Lovecake in reply to Partner20]

I was thinking the very same thing………