Re: Alternative source of glutathione -NAC

[Guest guest]

There is yet another source for the building of Glutathione and that is by using

NAC or

N-Acetyl-L-Cyseine.

This is easily obtained and at very reasonable cost. I have included some of the

supposed reasoning for the connection yet I cannot verify what is written below.

Perhaps someone such as a Scientist, can validate the following.

I remember a statement by , st as he said, regarding NAC, " that's good

stuff " , when I asked him about it. It is a 'specific' for Bladder Cancer and

perhaps other cancers as well. ?

He also suggested, that if used as a chelator which is yet another use for it,

one should take it often because it has such a short half-life. Additionally it

is an 'approved' treatment for acetaminophen overdose. Joe C.

[Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol. It is also found in many

other over-the-counter medications you can buy at the drug store and in

prescription drugs your doctor prescribes: Common names include Actifed,

Alka-Seltzer Plus, Benadryl, Butalbital, Co-Gesic, Contac, Darvocet, Excedrin,

Fioricet, Lortab, Midrin, Norco, Percocet, Robitussin, Sedapap, Sinutab,

Sudafed, TheraFlu, Unisom With Pain, Vick's Nyquil and DayQuil, Vicodin,

Wygesic, and Zydone. ]

Acetaminophen in overdose can seriously damage the liver. If the damage is

severe, a liver transplant may be necessary in order to save a life.

The antidote to acetaminophen overdose is N-acetylcysteine (NAC). It is most

effective when given within 8 hours of ingesting acetaminophen. Indeed, NAC can

prevent liver failure if given early enough. For this reason, it is absolutely

necessary that acetaminophen poisoning be recognized, diagnosed, and treated as

early as possible. ) overdose.

NAC

N-AcetylCysteine (NAC, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) is the amino acid L-Cysteine plus an

acetyl (-CO-CH3) group attached to the amino (NH2) group. The acetyl group

functions to speed absorption and distribution on orally ingested cysteine.

Amino acids which contain a sulfur group have antioxidant properties.

The hydrogen atom in the thiol (ie, -SH) group of many sulfur-containing

anti-oxidants can act as an electron for neutralizing free-radicals. Lipoic

acid, the tripeptide glutathione, the amino acids cysteine & methionine and the

organosulfur compounds of garlic oil are all thiol containing anti-oxidants.

Even albumin can have an anti-oxidant function in plasma as a result of its

cysteine-34 residue.

Glutathione (GSH, L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine) is the predominant

anti-oxidant in the aqueous cytoplasm of cells. Virtually all cells require

glutathione for viability and function. Glutathione is synthesized from three

amino acids in a two-step process, beginning with the combination of glutamic

acid & cysteine and ending with the addition of glycine. The liver & lungs are

the primary sites of glutathione synthesis. Glycine & glutamic acid are

plentiful in cells, so it is the availability of cysteine that controls the

reaction rate. Neuronal overexpression of the rate-limiting enzyme for

glutathione synthesis in transgenic fruit flies has been shown to increase mean

and maximum lifespan by up to 50% [JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY; Orr,WC;

280(45):37331-37338 (2005)].