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- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) boosts production of glutathione, an important antioxidant that helps reduce free radical damage and plays a role in the detoxification of heavy metals and other harmful substances
- In emergency medicine, NAC is used as an antidote for acetaminophen toxicity resulting from an overdose. Mortality due to acetaminophen toxicity is largely eliminated when NAC is promptly administered
- The most common use of NAC is for liver support, but it’s also showing tremendous promise in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease
- NAC also shows particular promise in the treatment of mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression and drug abuse, and appears to improve fertility in both men and women
- NAC is safe and inexpensive, and has been commercially available for a long time. It’s also generally well-tolerated and has no known serious side effects
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) — a precursor which is needed for glutathione biosynthesis — is an incredibly useful supplement that few people have even heard of. Many of its benefits relate back to the fact that it helps boost production of glutathione, an important antioxidant your body produces naturally that helps reduce free radical damage and plays a role in the detoxification of heavy metals and other harmful substances.