Is NAC Anti Inflammatory?
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Is NAC Anti Inflammatory
Is NAC anti-inflammatory? NAC or N-Acetyl Cysteine is a supplement available for decades. Therefore, with increasing awareness, people want to know whether it is anti-inflammatory or not. NAC is an antioxidant, and it helps the body to produce its own antioxidants. Due to this reason, NAC does have anti-inflammatory properties and plays a significant role in fighting against diseases.
For decades people have been using NAC to treat a wide range of diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. To find the answer to your question, is NAC anti-inflammatory? Let's have a look at the role of NAC in our body and its anti-inflammatory benefits.
NAC Anti Inflammatory Benefits
NAC provides numerous benefits to our body by acting as an anti-inflammatory and preventing chronic conditions. Therefore, in this section, we will shed light on NAC's anti-inflammatory benefits, which one can enjoy through its consumption. These include:
Essential for Production of Glutathione:
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant. NAC plays a critical role in the production of glutathione and other two amino acids; glycine and glutamine. The body needs glutathione to neutralize all the free radicals that damage the body's cells and tissues. Moreover, glutathione is an essential component for immune health to fight against cellular damage. Besides, some of the researches state that it also contributes to longevity.
Stabilizes Blood Sugar Level:
One of the after-effects of high blood sugar and obesity is the inflammation in fat tissues. As a result of which it can cause destruction and damage to the insulin receptors, thus, increasing the risk of type II diabetes. According to the research on animals, NAC can stabilize blood sugar by reducing the inflammation in fat cells. Consequently, it can also improve insulin resistance. Because when insulin receptors are working correctly, they can remove sugar from the blood to it in the normal range. Moreover, the oxidative effect of NAC also plays a significant role in reducing insulin resistance.
Improve Skin Health:
There is numerous evidence that shows creams containing NAC can effectively improve skin health. To protect skin from damage, NAC can increase the level of glutathione. Moreover, NAC can also reduce skin inflammation and normalizes cell division in the skin. People are using it against cell problems like skin irritation, eczema, radiation-induced skin damage, acne, and wound healing. Although studies are still going on regarding the anti-inflammatory effect of NAC on the skin, it shows promising results.
Reduce Lung Diseases:
Generally, for lung diseases like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), NAC is used to reduce inflammation and mucus. Moreover, it is also beneficial in diseases like chronic bronchitis. NAC can break down mucus and boost the level of glutathione in the lungs. As a result of which it can minimize the airway damage and breathing difficulties. According to another study, NAC can improve symptoms and prevent diseases from worsening in chronic bronchitis patients. When consuming NAC in a safe amount for over a year, it can improve lung capacity and breathe in people with COPD. Moreover, sometimes NAC is given alongside oxygen for COPD treatment.
Improve Liver Health:
Another benefit of NAC, which proves its anti-inflammatory properties, is an improvement in liver health. We all understand that NAC can boost glutathione levels to its highest amount in the liver. Therefore, several researchers are going on to find the potential benefit of NAC to protect the liver from inflammation, liver diseases, and drug poisoning. In case your liver gets damaged, it can ultimately increase the inflammation oxidative stress. However, some research shows NAC can reduce inflammation in the liver by improving antioxidant reserves. NAC can reduce liver damage by up to 86 percent. Moreover, NAC injections have also shown considerable improvement in liver functions.
Great for Flu:
NAC can effectively decrease the body's inflammation; therefore, some people believe that it can also reduce symptoms of flu and the common cold. Flu is a respiratory tract issue that arises due to extreme inflammation. According to one study, NAC can successfully reduce the chances of catching a cold in older people by 54 percent. Moreover, taking NAC is extremely helpful in the winter season, probably the best time to catch a cold. Sometimes NAC is added in the treatment of sinus inflammation and infection. NAC can reduce the replication of the flu virus at the cellular level because if the virus is unable to replicate, it would be easier to fight against it. Besides, doctors also added NAC to the standard treatment of flu and respiratory infection.
Best for Inflammation and Aging:
When it comes to aging, one of the best and most loving supplements of the anti-aging community is NAC. It acts as an ancestor to the glutathione, the most powerful antioxidant in the body. Therefore, the consumption of NAC can increase the body's level of glutathione by almost 30 percent. Consequently, your body will be more resistant to inflammation and oxidative stress and slow down the aging process. It works really fast and can increase antioxidant status in the body within a week. As a result of which your ability to fight against oxidative stress will last longer than usual. Besides, it can also protect your cells from toxins and pollutants like pesticides, heavy metals, and gasoline and diesel fumes.
Pain and Inflammation:
NAC can successfully alleviate pain from those suffering from poor blood circulation. According to the research results, if you consume 1200 mg of NAC daily, it can effectively reduce inflammatory markers like CRP and IL-6 in people with kidney diseases. By reducing oxidative damage, NAC can increase antioxidant protection and therefore reduces inflammatory markers. However, in another study on kids, NAC shows no impact on kidney inflammation and leg cramps. Some claim that NAC can reduce neuropathic pain by blocking the inflammatory pathway. Moreover, the NAC act in the same way as anti-inflammatory painkillers. So, NAC can reduce inflammation from different origins, including kidneys.
Improve Heart Health:
An increase in oxidative stress can damage the heart tissue, leading to heart problems like strokes, heart attacks, and other severe conditions. However, NAC can improve the production of glutathione, thus reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, it can successfully reduce the chances of oxidative damage to heart tissues. Moreover, it can increase nitric oxide production, which can dilate blood vessels, thus improving flow. Consequently, blood can easily flow back to the heart and reduces the chances of a heart attack. Moreover, NAC can also lower blood pressure, therefore, improving heart health and preventing other chronic diseases.
NAC Dosage
By looking at the above section, we learned that NAC does act as an anti-inflammatory and has numerous benefits. In simple terms, NAC almost contains something for everyone. It is a great general supplement that can protect your cells from stress and successfully slow down aging. Therefore, it is worth adding it to your morning supplement list. But the real question is how much dosage of NAC is good for you.
According to numerous studies, the exact dosage goes between 1200-2400 mg NAC. And most importantly, you can take it in 600 mg doses throughout the day. The best time to take NAC is with an empty stomach, meaning take it at least an hour before eating. You can either take pure NAC or the one with Vitamin C; both work well. There are different ways to consume NAC, including orally, IV, in liquid or powder form, or as an aerosol spray.
On the other hand, when it comes to dietary recommendations, there is no exact answer to this question. In case you want your body to produce NAC, naturally, you should consume an adequate amount of Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and folate. Therefore, consume food rich in these nutrients like beans, spinach, lentils, salmon, and banana.
Almost all protein-rich foods contain cysteine, but people want to improve their level fast. Therefore, they go with the supplement option. Keep in mind that NAC has low bioavailability meaning it cannot well absorbed in the body.
Side Effects of NAC
When it comes to NAC, it has a different impact on people of different ages. It is entirely a safe supplement for adults when prescribed by a physician as a medicine. However, a higher amount of NAC might result in:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Eye irritation
- Fatigue
- Skin rash
Besides, if you inhaled NAC, it can cause
- Swelling in the mouth
- Runny nose
- Chest tightness
- And drowsiness
If you are already using blood-thinning medications or have a bleeding disorder, you are advised not to take NAC supplements to slow the blood clotting process. Besides, it comes with an unpleasant smell; therefore, it is hard to take. And finally, never consume any supplement without consulting your doctor first.
Final Words
NAC is an important antioxidant supplement used for centuries. It is vital for the production of glutathione. Moreover, when it comes to Is NAC anti-inflammatory, we have tried to give its answer in detail in this article. We have mentioned all the important anti-inflammatory functions or benefits one can enjoy by consuming it. However, always consult your doctor first before consuming any supplement.
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