Some are backed by preliminary research while others aren’t.
NAC supplements are the synthetic form of the amino acidcysteine.
Cysteine is a nonessential (or semi-essential) amino acid.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
This means your body can produce it even if it’s not consumed via food.
Cysteine plays a key role in making protein and collagen.
Health Benefits of N-Acetylcysteine
Little or no evidence supports most purported NAC benefits.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
Research to date has been preliminary.
Some of those findings are promising, though, and warrant further research.
Some research suggests NAC supplements can increase the amount ofglutathionein your body.Glutathioneis a powerful antioxidant.
To create it, NAC bonds with two other amino acidsglutamine andglycine.
Before using a supplement, talk to your healthcare provider.
(IV means it’s delivered directly into a vein via a needle.)
The NAC is usually given in three infusions over the course of 21 hours.
Get Emergency Treatment
Tylenol poisoning is a medical emergency.
Don’t venture to treat it yourself.
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know may have overdosed on acetaminophen.
The FDA has approved inhaled NAC as an add-on treatment for helping break up mucus in lung conditions.
Two clinical trials quickly got underway.
These drops occurred regardless of their weight, cholesterol levels, or whether they smoked.
The same study also suggested NAC may reduce your blood’s homocysteine levels.
High levels of homocysteine can increase your risk of heart disease.
However, the long-term effects of NAC on blood pressure are unknown.
This study was too small to draw firm conclusions but provided promising evidence that may encourage further study.
Varicoceles is a leading cause of male infertility.
The review evaluated eight studies with a total of 910 people with PCOS.
Investigators found NAC improved ovulation and pregnancy rates compared to a placebo.
Researchers also reported NACdid notimprove other common symptoms of PCOS, such as menstrual irregularities or weight gain.
You should look at it as an additional treatment, and only after clearing it with your healthcare provider.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apneacauses you to stop breathing for short periods while you sleep.
Some small studies have suggested that NAC supplements may help improve nighttime breathing and reducesnoringin people with sleep apnea.
Side Effects
As with all supplements, side effects are possible when taking NAC.
They’re more common at high doses and different for different forms of the supplement.
Allergies to NAC are uncommon but can occur.
The risk is highest during NAC infusions.
In rare cases, an infusion may causeanaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
What Happens If I Take Too Much?
Oral NAC hasn’t been tied to any cases of toxicity (overdose).
However, taking too much NAC may make side effects more likely.
Accidental overdoses of IV NAC have caused deaths.
Discard any supplements that have expired, are discolored, or show signs of deterioration.
It is important to note that NAC may have an odor similar to sulfur, which is normal.
Side effects and drug interactions are possible with NAC supplements.
Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any medicinal product.
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