N-acetyl cysteine 600 mg tablets are commonly used to increase levels of antioxidants in the body and support liver health.
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is approved by the FDA for use as a prescription drug and is used by doctors to treat a variety of conditions and emergencies related to low glutathione levels. NAC is derived from the amino acid L-cysteine.
N-acetyl-L-cysteine tablets are the most common form of cysteine available as a dietary supplement. This compound is broken down to cysteine and then glutathione in the body.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it is able to neutralize free radicals. If left unchecked, free radicals can cause damage to cell membranes and DNA. N-acetyl-L-cysteine pills are taken as a dietary supplement to support liver and lung health.
Liver Function
Detox
Fertility- Boosts glutathione & supports liver function
- Shown to increase endurance & reduce fatigue
- Fertility & higher sperm count in males
N-Acetyl Cysteine Tablets
Related Topics
NAC has been used by medical practitioners for nearly 30 years. It is commonly used as a mucolytic – a compound used to break down mucus in the bronchial passages and lungs.
It is also used orally and intravenously for acetaminophen toxicity to protect liver function and mitigatge liver damage (acetaminophen toxicity is a serious condition that should be treated by a medical professional).
Historically, NAC has been utilized as a mucolytic to break down mucus in the bronchial passages and lungs since the 1960s. Emergency room physicians began using it against liver toxicity in the 1970s.
In the 1980s, NAC became a popular option for helping to negate the damages incurred through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It is now also used to treat conditions characterized by low glutathione levels.
N-Acetyl Cysteine Antioxidant Effects
N-Acetyl Cysteine 600 mg tablets provide a sulfhydryl group (-SH) and are able to serve as a strong antioxidant. It is also involved in the production of the antioxidant glutathione.
NAC administration has been observed to increase the levels of glutathione in blood plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Glutathione is one of the body’s most important antioxidants. It not only acts as an antioxidant, but helps maintain the proper function of other exogenous (consumed) antioxidants (like vitamins C and E).
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and compounds that are classified as reactive oxygen species. If left unchecked, free radicals can damage cells, DNA and cell membranes. Researchers suspect that free radical damage plays a role in the aging process as well as the development of many diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
In addition, low levels of glutathione have been associated with a number of conditions, such as chronic bronchitis, HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and cystic fibrosis.
N-Acetyl Cysteine Anti-Inflammatory Effects
NAC also appears to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, which may be caused by its ability to modulate gene expression and reduce the inflammatory response.
It has also been observed to inhibit markers of inflammation, including the release of inflammation-inducing cytokins (normally released as part of an immune response), the increased activity of protease enzymes and metabolism of phospholipids. [1]
Top N-Acetyl Cysteine Supplements
Therapeutic Uses for N-acetyl Cysteine
Acetaminophen Poisoning: Prolonged and excessive acetaminophen use is known to deplete glutathione stores in the liver. This depletion can also be caused by a single excessive dose of acetaminophen (high enough to constitute poisoning).
In either case, N-acetyl cysteine 600 mg pills are often administered by doctors, either intravenously or orally, to increase glutathione levels in the liver and protect the organ from the permanent effects of untreated acetaminophen toxicity.
Mortality rates in those poisoned by acetaminophen products are significantly decreased by NAC administration.
Acetaminophen toxicity is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Do not try to supplement with NAC at home as a treatment for acetaminophen poisoning.
Lung Conditions: NAC is often used to help thin and clear phlegm. NAC is used to prepare subjects for bronchial diagnostic studies.
It is also used to reverse atelectasis (collapsed lungs) by breaking down mucus obstructions. Further, it is used to prevent and/or treat crusting inside the trachea in tracheotomy patients.
In some studies, NAC tablets have been noted to reduce the severity of symptoms in individuals with chronic bronchitis. Four months of daily NAC supplementation was observed to improve lung capacity and shortness of breath in individuals with chronic bronchitis.
Notably, NAC does not appear to improve the symptoms or frequency of chronic bronchial flare ups when only used for a short period of time.
NAC use has reported to improve symptoms of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a study involving people with COPD, symptom flare ups were reduced by more than 40 % over the course of the trial when combined with conventional therapies.
Sputum decreased between 10% and 20% when NAC was delivered by a nebuliser (a medical device that allows medicines to be inhaled by the patient).
Heart Conditions: Taking N-acetyl cysteine tablets as directed by a medical professional is used for improving the symptoms of unstable angina pectoris, especially when used conjunctively with nitroglycerine. [1]
Angina is characterized by ongoing chest pain. In studies, combining NAC with nitroglycerine (which causes vasodilation and improved blood flow) has been observed to reduce chest pain, heart attack and risk of death. [2]
NAC also seems effective at reducing the development of tolerance to nitroglycerine. Hypotension and/or strong headaches may result from combining NAC with nitroglycerine.
Cardiovascular event incidences, including myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, are reduced via NAC administration. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), such incidences are reduced by roughly 40%.
Notably, mortality rates from cardiovascular causes, and total mortality rates for ESRD patients do not seem to be reduced via NAC usage.
Mood Disorders: In placebo-based studies, administration of N-acetyl cysteine tablets has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder patients. This is based on 24 weeks of supplementation.
- Boosts Glutathione and helps the liver detoxify
- Shown to increase endurance and reduce fatigue
- Increase sperm count and motility in males
Additional Benefits of N-acetyl Cysteine Tablets
The therapeutic effects of NAC are still being investigated. It is used for a number of conditions/outcomes that require more research to be substantiated. These uses include the following:
- improving oxygenation and decreasing mortality rates in patients with ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)
- reducing cocaine dependence by managing cravings
- reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer in patients with histories of colonic polyps
- improving kidney function in patients with hepatorenal syndrome
- reducing the severity and frequency of nosebleeds in patients with capillary dilation caused by HHT (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia)
- improving sperm quantity (but not motility) in infertile men
- improving the symptoms of lamellar ichthyosis, a hereditary disease of the skin
- increasing the odds of maintaining pregnancy for more than 20 weeks in women who have histories of miscarriages
- increasing peripheral sensitivity to insulin in hyperinsulinemic PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) patients
NAC Side Effects
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates NAC as “Likely Safe” when taken appropriately. As noted, NAC has been approved by the FDA for prescription by medical professionals. It is also available as a dietary supplement for over-the-counter supplementation.
NAC may interact with a number of prescription and over-the-counter medications because of its wide ranging effects on the body. Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking N-acetyl cysteine tablets in 600 mg or any other dosage.
- N-Acetyl Cysteine: Professional Monograph. Natural Medicines Therapeutic Research. Reviewed 2013 May 26, Updated 2015 Jun 24.
- University of Maryland Medical Center. Cysteine. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Guide. 2014 Jun 26
- Song G, Nesil T, Cao J, Yang Z, Chang SL, Li MD. Nicotine mediates expression of genes related to antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress response in HIV-1 transgenic rat brain. J Neurovirol. 2015 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print]
- Park JH, Kang SS, Kim JY, Tchah H. The Antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine Inhibits Inflammatory and Apoptotic Processes in Human Conjunctival Epithelial Cells in a High-Glucose Environment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 Aug 1;56(9):5614-21.
- Zhang JQ, Zhang JQ, Liu H, et al. Effect of N-acetylcysteine in COPD patients with different microsomal epoxide hydrolase genotypes. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2015 May 13;10:917-23.
- Cai Z, Lou Q, Wang F, et al. N-acetylcysteine protects against liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015 Jul 1;8(7):8655-62.
- Ostaszewska-Bugajska M, Rychter AM, Juszczuk IM. Antioxidative and proteolytic systems protect mitochondria from oxidative damage in S-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana. J Plant Physiol. 2015 Aug 20;186-187:25-38.
- Yu WC, Tian LY, Cheng W. Efficacy study of edaravone and acetylcysteine towards bleomycin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Jun 15;8(6):8730-8739.
- Alfonso H, Franklin P, Ching S, et al. Effect of N-acetylcysteine supplementation on oxidative stress status and alveolar inflammation in people exposed to asbestos: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Respirology. 2015 Jul 14. [Epub ahead of print]
- Schmitt B, Vicenzi M, Garrel C, Denis FM. Effects of N-acetylcysteine, oral glutathione (GSH) and a novel sublingual form of GSH on oxidative stress markers: A comparative crossover study. Redox Biol. 2015 Jul 29;6:198-205.
