N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a sulfur-containing amino acid with a multitude of beneficial health effects. And yes, it does have application for COVID-19 or I would find it difficult spending time on It right now.
NAC has been the subject of several studies on a number of viruses, going back decades. It has been found to have some very important effects. A new COVID-19 trial is using inhaled NAC with heparin. Taking NAC in supplemental form as part of an antiviral program deserves consideration.
NAC has been found to reduce replication of some other types of viruses. It has also reduced infection-driven inflammatory chemicals that cause tissue injury. NAC was tested in an animal study of H9N2 swine influenza. It reduced the degree of lung inflammation and injury. Could it do the same in COVID-19?
NAC was tested in a 6 month human study of influenza. It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial involving 262 people. Half of the subjects received 600 mg of NAC, the other half received placebo, twice daily for 6 months. NAC was found to improve immune function and reduce the severity of influenza infections. Both groups had similar infection rates with A/H1N1 virus influenza. However, whereas 79% of placebo-treated people had symptomatic infections, only 25% of subjects treated with NAC were symptomatic! There were a total of 99 flu-like episodes (symptomatic periods) that occurred in 62 people in the placebo group over the 6 month study. 48% of these were classified as mild, 47% were moderate, and 6% were severe. In the NAC group, 46 flu-like episodes occurred in 37 subjects. 72% of these were mild, 26% were moderate and only 2% severe. There were many fewer days of being bedridden in the NAC group. Of the 10 flu-like episodes in the study that were not bad enough to require bed-rest, 9 occurred in the NAC group. The authors of the study also noted: “NAC had a marked and significant protective effect both towards local symptoms, such as coryza, rhinorrhoea, sore throat, catarrh and cough, and general symptoms, especially headache and myalgia- arthralgia.” Could NAC have an effect on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection? Hopefully. Regardless, it is something to use for protection during the flu season every year.
When people have a fever with COVID-19 and other infections, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is often used to lower fever. The body uses a substance it produces called glutathione to detoxify Tylenol. Glutathione is the most important intracellular antioxidant, in addition to converting a variety of toxins and waste products to water-soluble forms so they can be excreted from the body. Tylenol can deplete glutathione. This results in a loss of antioxidant protection and the liver can suffer damage, which in some cases can be severe. This can occur with doses of Tylenol that are recommended on the label. A number of other things can magnify this glutathione depletion, including alcohol, heavy metal toxicity (from amalgam fillings, for instance), and poor diet. NAC restores glutathione and protects the liver. In fact, the remedy used in hospitals in cases of Tylenol poisoning is NAC. I routinely recommend NAC for people taking Tylenol.
I also recommend NAC when I find inadequacy of glutathione on lab testing. There are other important reasons I recommend NAC.
A partial list of other beneficial effects of NAC include:
Detoxification of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), and carbon monoxide poisoning
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, including suppression of the inflammation-activator known as NFkB
Mucolytic effects
Improves lung conditions: Atelectasis, bronchitis, COPD
Decreased sick days by 65% in chronic bronchitis
Prevents diabetes-related cataracts
Protects unhealthy kidneys from contrast damage
Reduces body fat
Reduces some symptoms of the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome (eye soreness and irritability, bad breath, and thirst)
Reduces disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus
Improves myoclonus epilepsy
Improves effectiveness of conventional medicine eradication of H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers, and contributes to autoimmune and cardiovascular disease
Some benefit in schizophrenia, depression, and hair pulling
Improved PTSD symptoms in veterans
Reduces craving in substance abuse disorders, especially cocaine and cannabis
47.1% of those treated with NAC versus 21.4% of placebo-treated patients were able to quit smoking
In conjunction with melatonin and betaine, protects against leaky gut syndrome induced by alcohol.
Decreases a number of cardiovascular risk factors: ADMA, Lp (a), homocysteine, blood sugar, insulin resistance, in addition to toxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation
Increases “good” HDL cholesterol
Reduces uptake of oxidized LDL by foam cells
Reduces heart attacks and strokes in people with end-stage renal disease
There are quite a few natural substances to consider using to potentially battle COVID-19 [future posts]. NAC is certainly one. I previously wrote about selenium, which is a cofactor for the free radical-quenching antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase. NAC increases formation of glutathione and selenium activates one particular form of it. For viral prevention 1 capsule twice daily is a recommended dose of NAC. Much higher doses can be used during active infection (6-7 g daily).