NAC Benefits for Liver & Lung Health

1. NAC benefits for antioxidant functions 

A primary role of NAC is as an antioxidant. NAC is a precursor to the body’s primary intracellular antioxidant, glutathione,² but NAC also acts on its own to neutralize free radicals. As an antioxidant, NAC benefits include activity against oxygen radicals, peroxides, and nitrogen radicals.

The body needs glutathione during times of oxidative stress (when free radicals outnumber antioxidants) or when the body triggers inflammatory responses to infection or injury. Too many free radicals can damage tissue and cells. The body, in all its wisdom, produces glutathione to counteract these free radicals. 

But there’s a limit to how much and how fast the body can produce glutathione. The process needs three amino acids: glutamic acid, glycine, and cysteine. Because cysteine is found in the lowest concentrations inside cells, lack of it can limit glutathione production.³  

As a glutathione precursor, NAC (providing cysteine) is very efficient at replenishing cellular glutathione stores. As the most abundant and most important antioxidant in the body, glutathione can be depleted through exercise, age, trauma, infection, and exposure to environmental toxins. Foods such as cruciferous vegetables, and proteins like whey protein, help maintain normal glutathione levels, but taking NAC has the potential to rapidly increase stores when needed.

2. NAC for lung and respiratory health

Although NAC benefits are present throughout the body, levels of NAC and glutathione are more concentrated in the liver and the lungs. When you think about what your lungs do, they are exposed to everything you breathe in. Obviously, the majority of what we breathe is air, but we also inhale dust, smoke, pollens, microscopic viruses and bacteria, pollutants, and other non-essential things – intentionally or unintentionally.

Is NAC good for lungs? With support from antioxidants like glutathione and NAC, lung health  can be maintained with an optimal response to the things we breathe in.  NAC has been shown to favorably promote antioxidant activity in the lungs and support the lung’s normal inflammatory response – to benefit respiratory health.⁴

3. NAC for liver health 

If you take NAC, liver protection might be on your mind because the liver is another place where NAC is concentrated. The liver is susceptible to oxidative stress and inflammation from continuous exposure to alcohol, a fatty diet, certain medications, or environmental pollution. These conditions can lead to liver damage and disease.³ Because the liver is the primary organ of detoxification, it is important that the liver is provided optimal antioxidant capacity. Is NAC good for your liver? NAC liver support centers around maintaining this antioxidant capacity, thereby protecting the hepatocytes (liver cells). Because of NAC’s role in producing glutathione, it supports the reduction of the oxidative insults to the liver from foreign substances. In addition, through the donation of its sulfur, NAC supports the normal detoxification function of the liver as it breaks down and eliminates toxic substances. 

4. NAC for immune health

NAC also provides antioxidant support in the immune system. Having healthy antioxidant function in immune cells is important because the immune system creates free radicals during its normal day-to-day functions and needs to constantly keep this process in balance. NAC also supports the growth and function of immune cells such as T-cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes.⁵ In at least one study of menopausal women, 600 mg of NAC daily for four months improved markers of immune health and lowered oxidative stress.⁶

5. NAC for exercise performance 

NAC has been investigated as a method to minimize muscle fatigue brought on by oxidative stress from exercise and athletic training. During intense exercise, the body has elevated levels of oxidized glutathione, showing that the body uses more of its naturally produced glutathione to minimize excess free radicals.⁷  

NAC can be used pre-workout to ensure adequate production of glutathione to reduce oxidative insults and help prevent injury from overtraining. One study showed that administering NAC one hour before a workout resulted in a consistent 15-percent increase in force output that remained constant during the 30 minutes of repetitive weight-based exercises, compared to a control group that was not given NAC.⁸

Other NAC benefits 

Additional NAC supplement benefits include support for women’s reproductive health,⁹ benefits for brain health and cognitive fuction,¹⁰ and as a protective antioxidant for the kidneys.¹¹ 

Overall, NAC has potential as a powerful antioxidant and diverse nutrient that can be used to support many areas of health – from the lungs to the liver. Although it is safe as a nutritional supplement for most individuals, it is also best to talk to your medical professional before taking NAC. Because it is a powerful player in promoting the body’s antioxidant capacity, NAC can be a great addition to anyone’s daily supplement routine.