N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) blocks cancer development and helps mucous

Cancer 



What You Need to Know: NAC N-Acetyl Cysteine’s Broad-Spectrum Benefits 

N-acetyl Cysteine  NAC also helps with mucus

For more than three decades, a safe, low-cost readily available compound has provided millions of people relief from the coughing, wheezing, and thick phlegm associated with cold and flu. Of course, pharmaceutical companies long ago co-opted it for profit by actually incorporating it into various patented drugs.

NAC is so effective at reducing nasal and bronchial congestion that according to one frequently quoted, now classic, study published in 1997, many people don’t even notice they are sick. De Flora et al enrolled 262 mostly older subjects and gave them either 600 mg of NAC twice a day or placebo for a 6-month period from fall until spring. Treatment with NAC significantly reduced flu-like episodes. Yet at the end of the study similar percentages of treatment and placebo groups showed they had caught the flu when their blood antibodies were tested. Of those who tested positive for the flu, only 25% of the NAC takers reported noticing symptoms while 79% of those receiving the placebo group had been noticeably sick.

Long relegated to infrequent use in unusual circumstances, the amino acid-derived compound N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) has drawn much increased scientific attention. 

NAC replenishes levels of the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH), which is often deficient with advancing age and in chronic illness.
NAC also regulates expression of scores of genes in the pathways that link oxidative stress to inflammation.
These dual effects give NAC a unique role in the prevention and treatment of many common diseases, both acute and chronic.
NAC reduces the frequency and duration of attacks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may slow the clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). (MUCOUS AWAY!)NAC improves insulin sensitivity in people with some of the most difficult-to-treat metabolic disorders.   (CANCER LOVES GLUCOSE)NAC blocks cancer development at virtually every step in the process, and through multiple mechanisms, making it an important cancer chemopreventive agent.

Though most human individuals gain benefits from 600-1,800 mg/day, clinical studies have found that doses of up to 2,000 mg/day are safe and effective. A recent study demonstrated the safety of 2,800 mg/day for 3 months in patients with COPD.23



The strong and growing links between oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer make NAC a natural go-to compound for cancer chemoprevention. True to form, NAC has multiple anti-cancer activities acting at multiple targets to provide layers of cancer protection against a large variety of cancer types. NAC induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in multiple types of human cancer cells.62 In human gastric cancer cells, NAC not only induces apoptosis, but also stops DNA synthesis, preventing cancer the cells from replicating.63 In melanoma cells, NAC inhibits NF-kB, preventing expression of signaling molecules needed by the cancer for growth.64 NAC inactivates and promotes destruction of c-Src, a chemical control molecule that is overproduced in many human cancers, providing a completely unique means of slowing or stopping tumor development.65 Finally, NAC protects DNA from breakage induced by ionizing radiation, but does not prevent cell destruction by radiation.66 That’s a vital finding because it means that NAC might allow radiation therapy to effectively kill cancer cells while minimizing the risk of so-called secondary cancers that could otherwise arise as side effects of the radiation.

Animal studies strengthen the case for NAC still further. NAC protects mice from cigarette smoke-induced lung cancers and other lung changes, a finding with enormous implications not only for current smokers but for ex-smokers and people exposed to second-hand smoke.67 NAC protects rats from chemically-induced liver cancers immediately following tumor initiation.68 This early interference with cancer development bodes well for NAC as a chemopreventive agent in the many human toxin-related cancers.

Human studies are similarly encouraging, even in the most challenging patient groups such as smokers. A randomized, double-blind chemoprevention trial of NAC 600 mg twice daily for 6 months vs. placebo in otherwise healthy smokers showed a significant reduction in formation of damaged or oxidized DNA segments, telltale early markers of cancer development in lung fluid.69 The same study also demonstrated reductions in abnormal, pre-cancerous cell changes in the mouths of supplemented smokers. These effects support the scientists’ conclusion that NAC can reduce tobacco smoke carcinogenicity in humans.

Colon cancer is another malignancy with strong links to oxidative stress and inflammation. Preliminary studies in humans show a 40% reduction in colorectal polyps in patients given 600 mg per day of NAC, compared with controls.70 In a group of people with a previous history of pre-cancerous colonic polyps, 800 mg per day of NAC for 12 weeks significantly reduced the proliferative index, indicating a decreased risk of colon cancer.71

Supplementing with 600-1,200 mg per day of NAC appears to be an entirely appropriate means of adding to your general cancer-prevention strategy.


An Underutilized Intervention

NAC is a slightly modified version of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine. When taken internally, NAC replenishes intracellular levels of the natural antioxidant glutathione (GSH), helping to restore cells’ ability to fight damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS).

NAC has been used in conventional medicine for more than 30 years, primarily as a mucolytic (mucous-thinner) inhaled to manage conditions such as cystic fibrosis, in which mucous is abnormally thick and tenacious. While there is little in the scientific literature to support its use as an inhalant, NAC administered in this form remains highly popular among experienced pulmonary speclialists.4,5

NAC given intravenously or orally, on the other hand, saves lives every year as a treatment for acute poisoning with acetaminophen-containing pain-relieving drugs. Acetaminophen is sold as Tylenol® and combined with other drugs to create analgesic compounds, including Vicodin® and Percocet®.6 Overdoses with acetaminophen are the number one cause of acute liver failure in the United States.6-8 Too much acetaminophen overwhelms the body’s glutathione reserves, which creates widespread and irreversible liver damage. NAC quickly restores protective levels of glutathione, averting catastrophe.7

Beyond this particular application, NAC has remained a relatively obscure and poorly understood compound until quite recently. Scientists all over the world are now beginning to understand just how vital glutathione metabolism really is, and how many disease states involve glutathione deficiency.9 According to Stanford University’s Dr. Kondala R. Atkuri, “NAC has been used successfully to treat glutathione deficiency in a wide range of infections, genetic defects and metabolic disorders, including HIV infection and COPD. Over two-thirds of 46 placebo-controlled clinical trials with orally administered NAC have indicated beneficial effects of NAC measured either as trial endpoints or as general measures of improvement in quality of life and well-being of the patients.”9
Multitargeted Regulation of Gene Expression


Much of NAC’s beneficial activity derives from its capacity to modulate expression of genes for myriad signaling molecules in the inflammatory response.10-12 NAC inhibits expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines following exposure to bacterial cell components and infection with influenza A virus.13,14 NAC suppresses the “master signaling molecule” nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB), which in turn prevents activation of multiple inflammatory mediators.15,16 NAC also regulates the gene for COX-2, the enzyme that produces pain- and inflammation-inducing prostaglandins in a wide array of chronic conditions.17

NAC’s ability to replenish the intracellular glutathione supply and mitigate oxidative damage is a separate and equally powerful mechanism that affords protection against DNA damage and cancer development, even in smokers.18 NAC’s inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production is another mechanism credited with cancer reduction in various body tissues.19

Gene expression modifications induced by NAC may also help reduce the acute oxidant-provoked inflammatory response following exercise, making vigorous activity safer and even more beneficial.20 Finally, obesity-associated insulin resistance, which arises from production of inflammatory signaling molecules in fat cells, can be sharply mitigated by NAC through regulation of their genes.21,22

The recent explosion of scientific evidence for NAC’s multi-targeted health benefits is matched only by the willful ignorance of the mainstream medical community. Some even question its safety, despite nearly 40 years of use in a variety of clinical conditions, which have established the safety of this compound, even at very high doses and for long-term treatments.18 One study demonstrated the safety of 1,800 mg per day for 142 days, while another study demonstrated the safety of 2,800 mg per day for 3 months.23


Summary

N-acetyl cysteine is a broad-spectrum compound traditionally under-utilized in conventional medicine. A burst of new clinical research reveals that NAC exerts dual effects, functioning both as a powerful antioxidant that replenishes cellular antioxidant systems (glutathione in particular) and also as a potent modulator of gene expression, regulating inflammation at multiple, fundamental levels. It has been shown to be an effective intervention against influenza, chronic lung diseases (helps mucous), cancers, insulin resistance, and gastritis caused by H. pylori. NAC’s further value is shown in its ability to mitigate otherwise inevitable metabolic and immunological disturbances caused by exercise.

A synthetic N-acetyl derivative of the endogenous amino acid L-cysteine, a precursor of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione. Acetylcysteine regenerates liver stores of glutathione. This agent also reduces disulfide bonds in mucoproteins, resulting in liquification of mucus. Some evidence suggests that acetylcysteine may exert an anti-apoptotic effect due to its antioxidant activity, possibly preventing cancer cell development or growth.

Chemotherapy benefit
There is a condition called "chemo-brain," which effects a large number of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy patients. Patients with this condition suffer from memory loss and have difficulty with focus and concentration. Dr. Gregory W. Konat at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown first gave one group of rats to two drugs commonly used to treat cancer, Adriamycin and Cytoxan. These drugs led to memory problems. However, memory loss was prevented when the rats were given n-acetylcysteine injections three times per week during chemotherapy. Metabolic Brain Disease, 2008.

N acetyl cysteine prevents cisplatin induced ototoxicity in rats
Hearing Res 2004.
Animals were treated with acetylcysteine or saline 15 or 30 minutes before receiving cisplatin or 4 hours afterward. The treated rats showed no significant change in auditory brainstem response with cisplatin therapy. In contrast, the saline-treated animals displayed marked ototoxicity (damage to hearing).



Kidney disease and peritoneal dialysis
In patients with chronic kidney disease, inflammation and oxidative stress are cardiovascular risk factors. A study looked at the effect of oral NAC on plasma levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in peritoneal dialysis patients. The eight week, placebo-controlled study included 30 patients on regular peritoneal dialysis. Twelve patients were treated twice daily with 600 mg of NAC and the remaining ten patients received placebo. NAC significantly decreased IL-6 levels without adverse side effects. Treatment reduced the inflammatory response in peritoneal dialysis patients. Nascimento MM, Suliman ME. Effect of oral N-Acetylcysteine treatment on plasma inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in peritoneal dialysis patients. Perit Dial Int. 2010.

N Acetyl cysteine in nephrology; contrast nephropathy and beyond.
Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertension. 2004.
At least 19 randomized trials evaluating acetylcysteine for the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy, at least five meta-analyses, and several reviews on that topic have been published within the past few years. One study indicated that long-term antioxidative treatment with acetylcysteine significantly reduced cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal failure. Although there are controversies on dosing and timing, its use together with hydration should be considered to protect patients from radiographic contrast media-induced nephropathy.

Nephropathy prevention
Researchers randomly assigned 354 consecutive patients undergoing primary angioplasty to one of three groups: 116 patients were assigned to a standard dose of N-acetylcysteine (a 600-mg intravenous bolus before primary angioplasty and 600 mg orally twice daily for the 48 hours after angioplasty), 119 patients to a double dose (a 1200-mg intravenous bolus and 1200 mg orally twice daily for the 48 hours after intervention), and 119 patients to placebo. Intravenous and oral N-acetylcysteine may prevent contrast-medium–induced nephropathy with a dose-dependent effect in patients treated with primary angioplasty and may improve hospital outcome.

NAC is so effective at reducing nasal and bronchial congestion that according to one frequently quoted, now classic, study published in 1997, many people don’t even notice they are sick. De Flora et al enrolled 262 mostly older subjects and gave them either 600 mg of NAC twice a day or placebo for a 6-month period from fall until spring. Treatment with NAC significantly reduced flu-like episodes. Yet at the end of the study similar percentages of treatment and placebo groups showed they had caught the flu when their blood antibodies were tested. Of those who tested positive for the flu, only 25% of the NAC takers reported noticing symptoms while 79% of those receiving the placebo group had been noticeably sick.


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I HAVE BEEN GIVING LUCY 1 800gm capsule of NAC at AM Meal.