N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

[Bollieforme]

I’ve been reading an article by Dr. Izabella Wentz talking about NAC was wondering if anyone had tried this supplement? She claims it’s the one supplement she couldn’t be without.

[greygoose]

I did try it, yes. Didn't do anything for me, I'm afraid.

[Zephyrbear in reply to greygoose]

Ditto here. I took it religiously for around two months and found no difference while taking it or after I stopped it…

[humanbean]

I take NAC and have done, intermittently, for years.

It is used in hospitals through an IV, but the NAC available to the general public is usually in capsule form. The two things I know of that it is used for are :

1) Used in paracetamol overdose.

2) Used in lung diseases of various kinds.

I take it for lung problems. I was a heavy smoker for many years. (I stopped about 15 years ago.) I had a lot of gunge stuck in my lungs, and no amount of coughing would shift it, and I was told by the NHS that there is no help for this problem. They were wrong.

NAC (available without prescription in the UK and online, don't know about elsewhere) helps to thin mucus and makes it easier for the body to get rid of it. It helped me, but the mucus does return after a short time, so I take NAC most of the time. I've found that (for me) excessive use can dry my lungs out so I take it a maximum of 4 days a week, then take a break for three days, then repeat.

As a result of Covid my lung health worsened even further, and I've had to buy and use a nebuliser with saline ampoules to help keep my lungs clear, and I use that as I feel the need.

I can't remember why Wentz recommends NAC for people with thyroid disease, although I did read her articles about it a long time ago.

Please note that NAC is rather smelly - like bad eggs - this is normal.

The brand I buy is Swanson, specifically this one :

dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/swa...

[Bollieforme in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for the reply. Wentz takes it as a liver antioxidant I do believe. I’d not heard of this supplement before. Interesting to read your story. Wishing you good health.

[pussycatwillow]

I tried it but did nothing for me.

[farrellkl68]

I take it , I read about it in her book and I’ve seen it mentioned elsewhere . I’m not sure if it works but I seem to have a good immune system , avoiding most lurgies. Doesn’t seem to help my fatigue and yes it does smell of sulphur 🤢

[FoggyThinker]

I tried it, but don't take it any more. Dr William Davis in the book Supergut recommends taking only for 1 day, as part of a plan to sort out candida I believe, but no longer than that as he says it causes the mucus lining in the gut to be thinned/depleted which is a bad thing. No idea who is more reliable or better informed! And I guess it might depend which is the lesser of two weevils (evils), for you.

[josephinius1]

I've taken it intermittently, only heard of it during the height of covid, thought can't hurt to be prepared if and when. I didn't notice any ill effects, and when I did get covid, it was a pretty mild case, despite my unvaccinated state, but by the time I got it, most cases were mild, so who knows?

[buddy99]

I find that with a great number of supplements that can not be measured in bloodwork (like D or iron) it is very hard to say whether they have a positive effect, because if there is any, it is so gradual. I took NAC for about a year and found that there were improvements in energy, skin and brain fog. Whether this can be attributed to NAC or something else, including placebo effect, I would not be able to say. One doctor highly recommended taking it, an other thought it was the devil. So no help there either, although I lean towards the former doctor's opinion, because he was quite good in all things thyroid. I don't think it would hurt to try it and not make any other changes to be sure that it was the NAC that helped (or not), if you have the money to spare.

[bookish]

I use it, as a glutathione precursor. I find it helps me. I increased my dose with covid and my partner started using it as well. He also thinks it helps. Glutathione is needed in cells for B12 utilisation (in most people) and I have a glutathione absent gene and familial B12 issues.