RESEARCH

NAC: The Best Flu (SWINE FLU) and Cold Remedy Yet?
By Jack Challem


Are you ready for the flu and cold season?
It turns out that a little known dietary supplement may be your best defense against symptoms of the flu and common cold. The supplement, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is a form of the amino acid cysteine and a component of protein. It's also one of the most potent immune boosters around.
Never heard of it? Virtually every hospital emergency room in the country stocks it as an antidote for acetaminophen (Tylenol¢ç) poisoning. Overdoses of acetaminophen, a common analgesic drug, deplete your liver's supply of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, leading to liver failure. Large supplemental doses of NAC restore liver glutathione levels and help the organ break down acetaminophen.
NAC has also been used since the 1960s as a "mucolytic" agent-that is, to break down lung-clogging mucous in chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. Rich in what chemists call "free sulfhydryl groups," NAC breaks down the disfulfide bonds of mucous-in essence, thinning it out.

NAC Reduces Flu Symptoms
NAC has several key functions in the body. It is a precursor to glutathone, the principal antioxidant made in the body, meaning that NAC raises glutathione levels. Like other sulfur-containing nutrients, NAC is a powerful antioxidant. It also helps the liver break down hazardous compounds-that is, after all, part of the liver's job.

Unlike pure cysteine, which can be neurotoxic in high doses, NAC is completely safe. The "acetyl" part of the name comes from the fact that its cysteine is acetylated. That means it is bonded to a molecules called an "acetyl group." similar to the molecules that make up acetic acid, or vinegar. Acetylatation increases absorption, stability, and safety.

Researchers have for years studied NAC as a natural cancer-preventive compound. Glutathione levels are typically lower than normal in people with cancer and other serious diseases. Given NAC's ability to boost glutathione levels and to clear congested lungs, one of these researchers decided to test NAC on elderly men and women susceptible to flus and "flu-like" symptoms.
Silvio De Flora, M.D., of the Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine at the University of Genoa, Italy, enrolled 262 subjects in a randomized, double-blind study to test the benefits of NAC. The subjects were given either two placeboes or two 600 mg NAC tablets daily for six months overlapping the wintertime flu season. All of the participants kept a daily log of their health and symptoms, and some were tested for flu antibodies.

While NAC did not prevent infection with flu germs, its effect was "striking," according to De Flora. Of the people with laboratory-confirmed flus who were taking NAC, only 25 percent developed symptoms. In contrast, 79 percent of the men and women taking placeboes developed clear-cut flu symptoms, according to De Flora's article in the European Respiratory Journal. In other words, NAC supplements reduced the likelihood of having flu symptoms by more than two-third.

Not everyone who gets sick during the winter, however, actually has the flu. So De Flora and his colleagues looked at more general flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, achiness, nasal discharge, cough, and sore throat. Again, the differences between people taking NAC and placeboes was unmistakable. Month to month, over the flu and cold season, people taking NAC had anywhere from one-third to one-half the flu-like symptoms of those taking placeboes.

"An additional criterion for evaluating the severity of influenza-like episodes was the length of time in bed which, irrespective of the age of patients, was remarkably shorter in NAC-treated subjects," noted De Flora. "In fact, in the 10 subjects suffering from influenza-like episodes who were not bedridden, nine were under NAC treatment.

Overall, subjects taking NAC weathered their flu-like symptoms with greater ease. Most of the people taking NAC had mild flu-like symptoms, In contrast, a larger percentageof people suffered moderate and severe symptoms.

All of the subjects also underwent period immune function tests, in which antigens (noninfectious bacterial compounds) were applied to the skin. In healthy people, these antigens trigger a noticeable immune response, but the study's elderly subjects responded sluggishly when De Flora began his study. Retested after one, three, and six months , immune responsiveness-the ability to respond to an infection-improved steadily among people taking NAC, but not among those taking placeboes.

In concluding remarks, De Flora noted that NAC was not virus-specific and could provide "broad-spectrum protection" to ease or eliminate symptoms of infection, particularly in elderly and other people at risk for contracting the flu.

Increases Life Expectancy in AIDS

Further evidence of NAC's immune-enhancing properties comes from a study of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), one of the most deadly viruses. Geneticists Lenora Herzenberg, Ph.D., Leonard Herzenberg, Ph.D., and their colleagues at Stanford University, determined that patients with HIV infections and acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) had low levels of glutathione, and that declining of glutathione levels were a better indication of life expectancy than were a decrease in CD4 immune cells. CD4 T cells are the immune cells targeted and destroyed by HIV.

The Hertzenberg's followed 204 AIDS patients for three years. Those with normal glutathione levels in their CD4 cells generally outlived those with low glutathione levels. The Herzenberg's gave the AIDS patients either very large doses of NAC-3,200-8,000 mg-or a placebo daily for six weeks. Patients taking NAC had increased blood levels of glutathione.

After this phase of the study, The Herzenberg's offered NAC to all of the patients, and a majority took it for six months. Those who chose to take NAC supplements were "roughly twice as likely to survive for 2 years as the subjects who did not take NAC," explained Leonard Herzenberg.

Several years ago, researchers at the Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy, investigated how NAC enhances the immune response. Giovanni A. Rossi, M.D., and his colleagues studied NAC's effect on two types of immune cells, alverolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, obtained from human subjects. The macrophages were incubated by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that causes strep throat and "flesh-eating bacteria" infections.
When Rossi added NAC to some of the cell cultures, the bacteria-killing properties of the macrophages and leukocytes increased significantly. Normally, these cells react so strongly to infections that many are killed in the process. With NAC, however, the enhanced germ-killing effect of macrophages and leukocytes did not result in greater self-destruction of these immune cells.

May Help Prevent Cancer

NAC has also shown promise as a "chemopreventive," or cancer-preventing, compound. Most cancers are caused by damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which contains the genetic instructions for cell growth. Cancer-causing compounds attach to DNA via chemicals called "adducts." NAC decreases adduct numbers, according to an animal study published in Cancer Research.
Cancer cells also produce their own free radicals, which mutate DNA and signal other cancer cells to keep growing. A study, by Kaikobad Irani, Ph.D., found that antioxidants, particularly NAC, block these cell-growth signals and might inhibit the activity of some types of cancers. In the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, the University of Genoa's De Flora wrote that NAC "appears to possess all four requirements necessary for a cancer chemopreventive agent to be used in humans: low cost; practicality of use (oral administration); efficacy, as documented by eperimental data; and tolerability and very low toxicity, well established in 30 years of clinical use."
NAC may also be of value in preserving muscle tissue in cancer patients, as well as people over overexercise. Wolf Droge, Ph.D., an immunologist at the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, found that reasonably fit men had a "significant decrease" in muscle mass and an increase in body fat after eight weeks weightlifting. However, when the subjects took 600 mg of NAC three times weekly, their loss of body mass was almost completely prevented.

In sum, NAC is a power immune booster that can protect you against flu symptoms other infections and maybe even lower your risk of cancer. Furthermore, NAC supplements are extraordinarily safe, and recommended doses generally range from 500-1,200 mg daily. Because NAC contains sulfur, capsules have a strong smell. However, they generally do not cause stomach upset or bad breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Therapeutic Properties Of N-acetyl-L-cysteine Discovered

ScienceDaily ? Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Univesidad de Alcala (UAH), confirm that N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) combined with mesalamine produces a significant improvement in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis.
The team headed by Luis Gonzalez Guijarro, biochemistry and molecular biology professor at the UAH, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical firm Farmasierra S.L., has developed a pilot study of the effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on patients suffering from moderate or mild ulcerative colitis. The conclusion reached in this study, and published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, is that the association of N-acetyl-L-cysteine and mesalamine, reduces the symptoms of patients affected with this condition. Previous to now, these patients were treated solely with mesalamine.
Professor Gonzalez Guijarro explains that ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that specifically affects the colon, producing free radicals and hydrogen peroxide. The cells of our immune system protect the body from infections using several weapons and neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cell in our organism, destroying microorganisms and producing hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is unstable and breaks down into hydroxyl radicals that cause damage to the delicate tissues. Professor Gonzalez Guijarro states that the intention of the co-administration of NAC and mesalamine was to eliminate the hydrogen peroxide and reduce the number of free radicals using N-acetyl-L-cysteine. N-acetyl-L-cysteine is a precursor to glutathione, a molecule that along with glutathione peroxidase, eliminates hydrogen peroxide.
The study carried out in collaboration with the Gregorio Maranon hospital and the Princesa hospital, is the first step in the long process that has to take place before any drug reaches drugstores. Work must begin on the association of mesalamine and NAC into a single product; since the study was carried out by administering one drug as a pill and the other as a soluble compound.
The professor of biochemistry and molecular biology insists that the clinical and biochemical effects have to be continuously recorded in order to corroborate the preliminary indications. For example, that this association does not produce any adverse side effects, and that N-acetyl-L-cysteine can be significant in the quimioprevention of colon cancer.
Another objective of the team of the UAH is to direct the molecule to the inflamed colon, using an enteric coating that should degrade at a certain pH. This way when the patient ingests the pill, the drug will pass through the stomach and intestine and will only be released in the colon.
N-acetyl-L-cysteine, is a drug normally used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to minimize the effects of cold and flu. Its hepatic protective properties also make this drug a useful tool in paracetamol intoxications.
The research team at Alcala University has been studying the new therapeutic properties of NAC for years, producing results such as an in vitro study where N-acetyl-L-cysteine reduced the negative effects caused by azathioprine, a immunosuppressant of clinical use, on the liver. Currently many research groups are working on the application of NAC in the treatment of diverse pathologies, such as diabetes, alcohol and cocaine dependence syndromes.
Every advance in the treatment of ulcerative colitis is of great relevance because the disease causes many discomforts in the patient while conditioning their life. In the early stages the symptoms are mainly diarrhea, weight loss, and intestinal bleeding, but once it aggravates, intestinal fistulas appear. ¡°Nowadays new extremely powerful drugs are being developed; so-called biological drugs, like anti-TNF antibodies, that even manage to cure the fistulas but cause negative side effects and are very expensive. Every improvement in the application of classic drugs with enteric coatings, combinations of drugs, etc¡¦ represent less risk for the patient and savings for the social security¡± states Gonzalez Guijarro.
¡°The future in treating diseases is customized treatments. In order for a drug to work, the weight and age of the patient must be considered, but their genetic information will also provide the key to evaluate whether a certain molecule would be effective for the particular patient¡± concludes the Professor of the UAH.

 

Medication Effective For Acute Liver Failure In Early Stages Of Disease, Study Suggests
ScienceDaily (Oct. 8, 2009)

The antidote for acute liver failure caused by acetaminophen poisoning also can treat acute liver failure due to most other causes if given before severe injury occurs, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers and their colleagues at 21 other institutions have found.
Acute liver failure occurs when cells in the liver die quickly, resulting in toxins being released into the bloodstream and brain. Patients often end up in a hepatic coma as a result of toxins not being cleared by the failing liver. Known causes of acute liver failure include autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, hepatitis A and B, and acetaminophen poisoning.
In a study published in the September issue of Gastroenterology, researchers found that acute liver failure patients in early stages of hepatic comas, when treated with the medicine N-acetylcysteine (NAC), were nearly 2.5 times more likely to survive than those treated only with a placebo.
"NAC is safe, easy to administer, doesn't require intensive care and can be given in community hospitals," said Dr. William M. Lee, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and lead author of the study. "NAC is an excellent treatment for non-acetaminophen acute liver failure if the disease is caught early."
Acute liver failure affects about 2,000 people annually in the U.S., and 50 percent of those cases are caused by acetaminophen poisoning. Until this study, liver transplantation was the only treatment if the failure was from non-acetaminophen causes.
To test NAC's use in non-acetaminophen cases, researchers at 22 sites randomly assigned non-acetaminophen acute liver failure patients by the level of their coma, with those with mild to moderate coma in one group, and patients with more severe coma in the other group. Beginning in 1999 and continuing for eight years, 173 patients received either NAC or a placebo for 72 hours. Doctors recorded patient survival three weeks after they were placed on treatment.
Researchers found that 52 percent of acute liver failure patients in mild to moderate comas survived when treated with NAC, compared to just 30 percent of those treated with only a placebo. In patients experiencing more severe coma, treatment with NAC did not result in a significant difference in survival rates.
"That makes sense because patients with advanced comas typically die or get a transplant within a few days," said Dr. Lee, principal investigator of the Acute Liver Failure Study Group, a national consortium of liver centers formed in 1997 to increase research into the rare disease.
"This study establishes NAC as a treatment for non-acetaminophen acute liver failure patients in mild to moderate coma and provides the first glimmer of hope that something can help these direly ill patients," Dr. Lee said.
He said he will continue to study NAC as a therapy for acute liver failure not caused by acetaminophen poisoning to determine optimal dosing and duration.
Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study included Dr. Linda Hynan, professor of clinical sciences and psychiatry; Dr. Anne Larson, associate professor of internal medicine; and Dr. Joan Reisch, professor of clinical sciences and family and community medicine. Other Acute Liver Failure Group investigators involved in the study were from the University of California, Davis; the University of Michigan; Virginia Commonwealth University; University of California, San Francisco; Baylor University Medical Center; University of Nebraska; and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Northwestern Medical Foundation. The N-acetylcysteine used was supplied by Apothecon/Geneva Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bristol Myers Squibb and Cumberland Pharmaceuticals
m or text 09178005836.

Absorption of Amino Acids and Peptides -Fiday,September 05,2008

Titaration Test for Starch

IODOMETRIC TITRATION (MANUAL TITRATION) IS ALSO USED FOR VITAMIN C

NAC: The best flu and Cold Remedy Yet?

Glutathione: The mother of all antioxidants...

KB helps restore blood pressure to normal

1.How can we distinguish between FAKE and GENUINE Oral Glutathione supplements?


The TASTE

Glutathione reduced is a tri-peptide thiol composed the amino acids l-cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine while KB Gluta plus NAC is a FREE FORM (single bond) which also composed the three amino acid. . According to certified oral glutathione manufacturers, genuine l-glutathione has a very tangy sour taste.


The SMELL

KB Gluta (free form) + NAC is a biologically active sulfur and therefore, will have a slight sulfuric smell (frequently compared to rotten eggs). Sulfur is the reason glutathione is so good at binding toxins. In order to minimize the sulfur smell, each bottle of Kyusoku Bihaku with NAC contains a dessicant. Furthermore, NAC is yet another amino acid with l-cysteine, which is also the active component of glutathione. This even adds to the slightly unpleasant smell emanating from KB sets/bottles.


2. What makes KYUSOKU BIHAKU plus NAC and PURE ROSEHIPS VITAMIN C different?


KB is pure pharmaceutical grade free form glutathione. Our product has no extenders usually found in other oral glutathione (reduced or free form) sold in the market today like sugar, cornstarch, yeast, soy, corn, rice bran, gluten, fragrance, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. That is why we only recommend for our client to take a single capsule of both the 500mg of KB Gluta plus NAC and the 500mg of Vitamin C Rosehips 500mg daily.


3. What are the other benefits that can be gained from using KB?


Apart from being a skin whitener, KB also serves as an antioxidant, immune system booster, detoxifier and helps the body rid itself of heavy metals.


KB Gluta plus NAC with Pure Rosehips is good for people who have have deficiencies such as


ASD (Autism)
Cancer
Parkinson’s Disease
COPD
Chronic Fatigue
HIV
Cardiovascular Disease
Liver Disease
Diabetes
Alzheimer's Disease
Acetaminophen Toxicity


4. Does everyone need KB or glutathione supplementation in general?


Yes. We need all the help we can get today for our often demanding, fast-paced lifestyles. Even if you are relatively healthy, and eat a sensible, balanced whole-food diet and have a low-stress lifestyle, you still can benefit from an individualized preventive nutritional program to build up nutrient reserves, balance, and detoxify your body. Supplementation makes good preventive sense and can give us additional support and protection ensuring that all the essential daily requirements are satisfied so not to become deficient or depleted causing one to breakdown and become ill.


5. How long do I need to take KB supplements before I see improvements?


On average will take between 1-4 months before beginning to recognize the health and other benefits. However, it really depends on your biological individuality and how efficiently and effectively your body absorbs and assimilates these nutritional substances and, of course, your physical and emotional awareness. Generally, the duration and severity of your signs, symptoms, or illness determines the length of time it takes to notice sustained improvements.


6. I’m a MUSLIM. What are the capsules made out of?


The capsule itself is manufactured under strict kosher and pareve (without meat or dairy) guidelines. Coloring agents such as iron oxide and titanium dioxide are used in animal gelatin capsules. Some colorless capsules, particularly vegetarian caps, are made from plant cellulose. --- So, basically


We are using vegetable capsules and not porcine gelatin that conforms to Halal and Kosher requirements.


7. What are the other health benefits of KB Gluta plus NAC supplementation?


This supplement inhibits free radical damage.

It has been researched for its ability to convert harmful foreign compounds like pesticides, solvents and air pollutants into less harmful substances that can be flushed from the body.

On the cellular level, glutathione may facilitate the transport of important nutrients across cell membranes while supporting the integrity of red blood cells.

It may significantly enhance quality of life and prevent liver and kidney damage in patients who are receiving chemotherapy.

It may also support health during radiation therapy.

Glutathione may improve liver function in recovering alcoholics.

Its deficiency has been associated with cataracts and supplementation has shown promising results.

Its deficiency has also been associated with Parkinson's disease.

Glutathione can support immune function and is used in the treatment of AIDS.

This supplement may treat respiratory infections in children.


8. Are there any side effects that come from taking whitening pills?


According to dermatologists worldwide, the only side effect of oral glutathione intake is the whitening of the dark skin. People with darker skin tones report that taking oral glutathione capsules along with vitamin C for three to six months or more lightens the color of their skin.


However, not all glutathione brands are safe. There are some brands claiming to be quality glutathione but in reality are inferior and worse, are fakes. Plus, bad mixture of glutathione with unsuitable components may cause whitening of the hair, pimple and acne break outs and other unpleasant side-effects


There are also companies who claim that their products include Vitamin C, Alpha Lipoic , Grapeseed, etc. in one capsule and are proudly printing them on their labels. Our tests on these products reveal that the amount of the supposed additives are insignificant. Even the glutathione hardly show up in our tests in some cases.


9. Why do you need Vitamin C when taking Glutathione?


Each KB pack also comes with Pure Rosehips Vitamin C to further complement the KB efficiency. Each Rosehips Vitamin C capsule is in its purely organic form which gives it a natural, timed release quality. Vitamin C is essential in helping both the glutathione and NAC retain more of its active components and at the same time flush out some of the glutathione and NAC which may be oxidized and become insoluble in the process.


10. Are there any drug interactions?


Yes there are. You must not take glutathione if you are taking Haloperidol (anti-psychotic drug) and Cisplatin (chemotherapeutic drug). We suggest you consult your doctors if you are taking any medicines. NAC is also found to have an inhibiting effect on magnesium.


11. Can I stop taking KB Set once I achieved the skin tone I want?


Yes. However we suggest you to used at least 100mg of glutathione daily for maintenance for your skin and health.


12. Will my skin tone go back to its natural color if I stop taking KB Set ?


Definitely not! The whitening effect of KB Set is permanent but you must also take care of your skin by avoiding too much exposure to sunlight. Exposure to sunlight will trigger oxidation creating skin free radicals which in turn will turn the skin darker by producing more eumelanin.


13. What causes the Glutathione depletion in the body?


Some well-known causes of Glutathione depletion are:


?poor diet ?pollution ?drugs ?radiation ?stress ?injury ?burns ?infection ?aging


As we age, our Glutathione levels are diminished. In fact, many diseases normally associated with aging have been linked to Glutathione deficiency including cataracts, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson, atherosclerosis and others.


14. What happens if Glutathione levels are low?


Glutathione deficiency contributes to oxidative stress, which plays a key role in AGEING and the worsening of many diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, HIV, AIDS, cancer, heart attack, and diabetes.


15. Is KB BFAD approved?


Yes, We have TWO SEPARATE BFAD for Kyusoku Bihaku Glutathione plus NAC 30 capsules and Kyusoku Bihaku Vitamin C Rosehips 30 capsules.


If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before taking this dietary supplement.


Pregnant, Breast-Feeding mothers are advised to consult their obstetrician/gynecologist prior to taking this supplement.


Notice: The first batch of KYUSOKU BIHAKU Glutathione (REDUCED FORM) was released with just a single bottle of 30 500mg capsule in one box last 2004. The NEW REFORMULATED Kyusoku Bihaku Gluta (free form) + NAC came with a separate bottle pure rosehips vitamin c. The third batch and latest batch is the KB Gluta (free form) plus NAC with Pure Rosehips Vitamin C. WE CONTINUOUSLY CONDUCT RESEARCH AND STUDIES IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU THE LATEST AND BEST DEVELOPMENTS IN ORAL GLUTATHIONE REPLACEMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET THE BEST QUALITY GLUTATHIONE FOR YOUR MONEY.


January 2008

L-GLUTATHIONE , N-ACETYL CYSTEINE (NAC)
One of the best anti-oxidants is an amino acid called L-glutathione. I'm not alone in considering it one of the most powerful cancer-curbing, age slowing nutrients ever discovered. However, because of the way the body metabolizes and manufactures relates nutrients, glutathione cannot be discussed apart from N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a form of the amino acid cysteine. NAC RAISES L-GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN THE BODY, SOMETHING THAT EVEN ORAL SUPPLEMENTS OF GLUTATHIONE ITSELFS CANNOT DO.
------- Dr, Robert C. Atkins'M.D. Vita Nutrient Solution

Did you know?

HYPERTENSION KB reduces hypertension by relaxing the blood vessels and improving blood flow. It might also be useful in treating congestive heart failure. It works well in conjuction wih the heart drug nitrogylcerin.

WOMEN'S HAIR LOSS KB is one of the best of a short list of sulfur containing supplements, and dosages as high can stop hair falling out.

RESEARCH STUDIES

The effects of aging are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered major culprits in aging and disease. ROS are byproducts of energy generation in normal metabolism and increase during infection and inflammation, exercise and stress, overexposure to sunlight and radiation, and exposure to external pollutants such as auto and diesel exhausts, emissions from power plants, cigarette smoke, pesticides, lead from old paint, and asbestos just to name a few.1 When high levels of ROS exist with inadequate antioxidants to neutralize them, oxidative stress increases and exacerbates aging and disease. The consequences of ROS damage depends on the molecules they attack and the body's levels of antioxidants. When the target molecule is DNA, the resulting ROS-induced chemical changes lead to genetic mutations. Oxidation of lipids and proteins injures cell membranes, increases blood vessel frailty, damages immune cells and modifies enzymes. As people age, internal antioxidant production declines. This paves the way for increased risk for disease and age-related conditions. No matter how healthy, fit or nutrition-conscious an individual has been, bombardment with environmental contaminants provokes the formation of ROS thus producing some degree of oxidative stress. This increases the demand for antioxidants at a time when the body is producing less. Glutathione levels have been shown to decrease with aging leaving neurons vulnerable to ROS attack and subsequent damage.2 A steady state of oxidative stress exhausts the body's glutathione resources and outpaces its ability to replace them. Depletion of glutathione is compounded by insufficient supply of precursors for glutathione synthesis.3 As glutathione levels decrease and oxidative stress increases, the cell's ability to function progressively declines until it dies. Boosting levels of this antioxidant powerhouse may mean taking an oral supplement. Glutathione levels cannot be increased by orally ingesting glutathione. This is because glutathione is manufactured inside the cell. The manufacture of glutathione in cells is limited by the concentration of its precursor, cysteine. Supplements that increase glutathione must provide cysteine. Glutathione levels cannot be increased by ingesting oral cysteine because oral cysteine is potentially toxic and is spontaneously destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract. N-acetylcysteine is the bioavailable form of cysteine and dramatically increases the body's production of glutathione, the brain's most important scavenger of free radicals. NAC HELPS PROTECT THE HEALTH OF NEURONS

(Data on file) In a comparison of single dose L-methylfolate to 5mg folic acid, L-methylfolate was 3x more effective in decreasing plasma homocysteine.

This graph represents technical information presented in: Ho P, Collins S, Dhitavat S, Ortiz D, Ashline D, Rogers E, Shea T. Homocysteine potentiates ©¬-amyloid neurotoxicity: role of oxidative stress. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2001;78:249-253. Homocysteine increases beta amyloid induced oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to neuronal death. N-acetylcysteine provides potent antioxidant protection and prevents neuronal death. Preserving cholinergic neurons sustains production of acetylcholine.

DUAL ACTION OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE

Homocysteine Reduction N-acetylcysteine is effective in homocysteine reduction. Evidence indicates that N-acetylcysteine alone can reduce elevated homocysteine levels by 20-50%. 4 5 Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine's effectiveness is primarily attributed to its ability to stimulate the synthesis of glutathione. In an in vivo study6, researchers investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine on glutathione levels in the brains of mice. They compared a control group that was not given N-acetylcysteine to a group that was injected with N-acetylcysteine. Nerve cell samples were examined from both groups. Neurons from the N-acetylcysteine treated group had significantly higher levels of total glutathione compared to controls. (P<0.01) Glutathione Level After Treatment with NAC

This graph represents technical information presented in: Pocernich C et al. In-vivo glutathione elevation against hydroxyl free radical-induced protein oxidation in rat brain. Neurochemistry International 2000;36:185-191. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) increases neuronal glutathione levels. Glutathione has a high electron-donating capacity which makes it a potent neuroprotective antioxidant. It protects nerve cells by neutralizing free radical attacks on protein, fat and DNA. NAC REDUCES FREE RADICAL ATTACKS ON PROTEIN Free radical attacks on protein produce protein peroxidation. Protein peroxidation is increased in AD brains and linked to oxidative stress. Glutathione has been shown to reduce formation of free radicals that attack proteins causing peroxidation. In the previous in vivo study 7 both the control and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) groups were exposed to iron (Fe) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which are known to cause protein peroxidation. To examine the effect of NAC, nerve cells were obtained from both groups. The NAC group that previously demonstrated elevations in glutathione was found to be better protected against protein peroxidation. The NAC group had less evidence of protein damage than the control group. From this study, it is most likely that the protective effects of NAC resulted from an NAC-induced increase in glutathione levels. (p<0.01) NAC Reduces Protein Oxidation in Neurons Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)

This graph represents technical information presented in: Pocernich C et al. In-vivo glutathione elevation against hydroxyl free radical-induced protein oxidation in rat brain. Neurochemistry International 2000;36:185-191. N-acetylcysteine protects nerve cells against protein peroxidation.

GLUTATHIONE REDUCES FREE RADICAL ATTACKS ON DNA

Beta amyloid plaque (A©¬) has been shown to induce oxidative stress. Many studies have shown that A©¬ causes excessive calcium influx into neurons which results in excitotoxicity. Overexcited neurons generate ROS (free radicals) and contribute to neurotoxic death. In a recent (2005) in vivo study, the protective role of glutathione against the oxidative and neurotoxic effects of A©¬ was evaluated. Not surprisingly, the authors found protein peroxidation and neurotoxicity increased in neurons treated with A©¬. When the glutathione level in A©¬ treated neurons increased, protein peroxidation and excitotoxicity decreased.8 These results show that the up-regulation of glutathione protects nerve cells from oxidative stress and neurotoxicity caused by A©¬. Nerve cell death is associated with progressive memory loss. Another significant finding of this study was the neurons exposed to A©¬ showed extensive DNA damage and nerve cell death. When neurons were pre-treated to increase glutathione levels, there was a significant reduction in DNA damage and neuronal death when exposed to A©¬ (p<0.05)

NAC REDUCES DNA DAMAGE IN NEURONS

This graph represents technical information presented in: Boyd-Kimball D et al. Gamma-Glutamylcysteine ethyl ester-induced up-regulation of glutathione protects neurons against A©¬ (1-42)-mediated oxidative stress and neurotoxicity: implications for Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neuroscience Research 2005;79:700-706. Glutathione (GSH) levels are decreased with age and beta amyloid plaque levels. Neurons were treated to increase cellular levels of GSH. Treated and non-treated neurons were exposed to A©¬ which induced oxidative stress. Neurons pre-treated to increase GSH were protected against DNA damage following exposure to A©¬. Cerefolin¢çNAC contains N-acetylcysteine which increases levels of GSH. GSH played a protective role in the oxidative and neurotoxic damage induced by A©¬.

References

1. Monograph: Glutathione, Reduced (GSH). Alternative Medicine Review 2001;6(6):601-607. 2. Lui R and Choi J. Age-associated decline in Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene expression in rats. Free Radical Biology Medicine 2000;28:566-574. 3. Pocernich C et al. In-vivo glutathione elevation against hydroxyl free radical-induced protein oxidation in rat brain. Neurochemistry International 2000;36:185-191. 4. Ibid. 5. Hultberg B et al. Plasma homocysteine and thiol compound fractions after oral administration of N-acetylcysteine. Scandinavian Journal of Clinincal Laboratory Investigation 1994;54(6):417-22. 6. Pocernich. 7. Ibid. 8. Boyd-Kimball D et al. Gamma-Glutamylcysteine ethyl ester-induced up-regulation of glutathione protects neurons against A©¬ (1-42)-mediated oxidative stress and neurotoxicity: implications for Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neuroscience Research 2005;79:700-706. Cerefolin¢çNAC is a medical food for the dietary management of neurovascular oxidative stress and/or hyperhomocysteinemia. CerefolinNAC.com ? 2007

Chelation:

Toxic metals can accumulate in the body over time from many sources such as drinking water, foods, and possibly even from tooth fillings made of silver-mercury amalgam. NAC may function as a chelator of heavy metals. In other words, NAC binds to toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead, and helps to remove them from the body. Most chelating agents, such as EDTA, must be given intravenously. NAC is one of the most effective oral chelating agents. Taken regularly over a period of time, NAC will help remove many toxic heavy metals from the body. This is of course a slow process. Exercise and Weight Training:

NAC is one of the most underrated supplements on the sports nutrition market. Numerous studies lend credibility to its potent bodybuilding potential. Exercise and weight training have been shown to generate large amounts of catabolic free radicals. These free radicals may damage muscle tissue. NAC supplementation increases blood serum glutathione levels and it is believed that this is responsible for many of the positive influences NAC has on preserving and increasing lean body mass. Liver:

NAC can help to prevent damage to the liver caused from overuse of acetaminophen (Tylenol). NAC is the standard medical treatment for acetaminophen overdose. It is prudent to take NAC whenever one uses acetaminophen. N-Acetyl Cysteine also helps to prevent damage by aldehydes, which are breakdown products of alcohol, including the small, but potentially harmful, amounts of methanol produced by the metabolism of aspartame (Nutrasweet). Before the next party, remember that research has shown that with consumption of alcohol, a toxic compound called acetaldehyde (AH) is formed in the liver. AH is normally broken down by specific enzymes, but heavy and repeated drinking may overwhelm natural defenses and allow production of millions of free radicals which, in turn, attack the liver. N-Acetyl-Cysteine, Silymarin, and other anti-oxidants help protect and defend the body from AH damage. For those occasions when you do decide to imbibe, start out with NAC and other free radical fighters for your best nutritional protection.

Lung:

NAC is an excellent mucolytic agent. It keeps the membranes of the respiratory system moist, thereby lessening the irritation of dry air, dust, and pollutants. It also helps the immune system to do its job properly in the respiratory tract. NAC is available as a prescription drug for this purpose, but you can buy NAC over the counter for far less money.

Skin:

The cysteine in NAC is an essential component in hair and nails. Some people find that it enhances nail growth and makes nails less brittle.

Precautions:

While N-Acetyl Cysteine is a more stable compound than taking oral cysteine, as it is metabolized, some NAC may be oxidized and become insoluble. This may form kidney stones. It is therefore recommended that persons taking NAC take at least as much vitamin C as NAC. Diabetics should consult their physician before using N-Acetyl-Cysteine, since it may have an insulin-blocking effect. How to take it:

N-Acetyl Cysteine is currently the dietary supplement of choice for boosting or conserving the body's stores of glutathione, cysteine, and other sulfhydryl antioxidants. NAC is a much better source of glutathione than taking glutathione itself, because less than half of supplemental glutathione is absorbed from the digestive system. This greater efficiency is important since cellular glutathione levels tend to drop 30% to 35% with age.

N-Acetyl Cysteine is well tolerated, is well absorbed, resists enzymatic breakdown, and has been proven to raise glutathione levels when taken orally.








Effectiveness of Orally Ingested Glutathione in the Prevention of Diabetic Complication Click here


Glutathione helps to defend the body against damage from cigarette smoking, exposure to radiation, cancer chemotherapy, and toxins such as alcohol. As a detoxifier of heavy metals and drugs, it aids in the treatment of blood and liver disorders.

Glutathione protects cells in several ways. It neutralizes oxygen molecules before they can harm cells. Together with selenium, it forms the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which neutralizes hydrogen peroxide. It is also a component of another antioxidant enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase, which is a broad-spectrum liver-detoxifying enzyme.

Glutathione protects not only individual cells but also the tissues of the arteries, brain, heart, immune cells, kidneys, lenses of the eyes, liver, lungs, and skin against oxidant damage. It plays a role in preventing cancer, especially liver cancer, and may also have an anti-aging effect. Glutathione can be taken in supplement form.

The production of glutathione by the body can be boosted by taking supplemental N-acetylcysteine. Studies suggest that this may be a better way or raising glutathione levels than taking glutathione itself.

Glutathione is not technically an amino acid, however, due to its close relationship is normally grouped with the amino acids. Most glutathione is found in the liver where it detoxifies many harmful compounds to be excreted thru the bile. Some glutathione is released directly by the liver into the bloodstream where it helps to maintain the strength of your red blood cells and also protecting your white blood cells.

Glutathione can also be found in the lungs and in your body's intestinal tract system. It is required for carbohydrate metabolism. Glutathione also appears to have anti-aging effects by aiding in the breakdown of oxidized fats that may contribute to atherosclerosis. As we get older glutathione levels in the body get lower and this can cause an increase in the aging process. Thus glutathione supplementation is useful to prevent this from occurring.

Glutathione deficiency maybe indicated by: coordination problems, mental disorder, tremors, twitching, nervous system disorder, and difficulty in balancing. Currently, believed to be caused by lesions in the brain.

Latest Research on Glutathione:

Neurotoxicology - Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2005, Pages 1-8 *Thimerosal Neurotoxicity is Associated with Glutathione Depletion: Protection with Glutathione Precursors * *S.J. James, William Slikker III, Stepan Melnyk, Elizabeth New, Marta Pogribna and Stefanie Jernigan * 1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA 2 Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA Abstract

Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines. Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly neurotoxic, especially to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl (single bondSH)) groups, the thiol-containing antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the major intracellular defense against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured neuroblastoma cells were found to have lower levels of GSH and increased sensitivity to thimerosol toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have higher basal levels of intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was associated with depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment with 100 /?/M glutathione ethyl ester or /N/-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both cell types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester or NAC prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 /?/M Thimerosal. Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines, it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly, and to children in developing countries. The potential protective effect of GSH or NAC against mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible adjunct therapy to individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing vaccinations.

Other important research papers :
[1] Wu, J et al. Mercaptoethanol and N-acetylcysteine enhance T-cell colony formation in AIDS and ARC. Clin Exp Immunol 77:7-10, 1989. [2] Lund, ME et al. Treatment of acute methylmercury ingestion by hemodialysis with N-acetylcysteine. Toxicol Clin Toxicol 22:31-49, 1984. [3] Henderson, P et al. N-Acetylcysteine therapy of acute heavy metal poisoning in mice. Vet Hum Toxicol 27:522-5, 1985. [4] Keith RL, et al. Utilization of renal slices to evaluate the efficacy of chelating agents for removing mercury from the kidney. Toxicology 1997 Jan 15;116(1-3):67-75. [5] Zalups RK, et al. Interactions between glutathione and mercury in the kidney, liver and blood. In: Chang, LW, ed. Toxicology of Metals. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1996; 145-63. [6] Shenker BJ, et al. Mercury-induced apoptosis in human lymphoid cells: evidence that the apoptotic pathway is mercurial species dependent. Environ Res 2000 Oct;84(2):89-99. [7] Thompson SA, et al. Modulation of glutathione and glutamate-L-cysteine ligase by methylmercury during mouse development. Toxicol Sci 2000 Sep;57(1):141-6. [8] Gong Z, et al. Effect of chelation with meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) before and after he appearance of lead-induced neurotoxicity in the rat. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1997;144:205-214. [9] Witschi Z, et al. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1992;43(6):667-669. Testing for a Glutathione Deficiency ? There is no one test that demonstrates a glutathione deficiency with 100% accuracy. But there are some good tests that your doctor can order that will provide important clues if there is a deficiency, methylation dysfunction, or inability to detoxification.

Some Personal Experiences with Glutathione for One Child : My son’s medical tests demonstrated over several years and many types of tests he had a glutathione deficiency and other issues. Over the past five years we have found glutathione based treatments have greatly assisted him. I have attempted to outline some of our findings for one case: my sons.

WHAT WE TRIED : 1. Oral Glutathione ?it increased a tremendous yeast outbreak 2. Topical Glutathione ?it caused a bad rash and undesired behaviors ?this is an understatement (at the time there was only a soy based glutathione ?this was 2 years ago) 3. The first dose IV Glutathione: 250 mg (it is really an IV Push ?5-10 minutes.) Some hints: We brought a portable DVD Player along, and prepared his arm with a big glob of EMLA cr?e prior to infusions. At the time Jeff was 5 years old ?around 40 lbs. The first treatment was Fall 2002. 4. Nebulized Glutathione ?2 mls ?2 times a day MORE ON IV TREATMENTS : 1. We increased his dose of IV Glutathione to 300 mg and the dosing was given every 2-3 months (sometimes longer, see note 5) 2. At the third infusion we added 1 gram Vitamin C 3. Somewhere around the 6 th infusion we added 300 mg NAC and push Vitamin C to 2 grams 4. Every 4-6 months we re-tested Plasma Cysteine levels 5. There was a period of 12 months where 2 of Jeff’s Cysteine levels remained normal so we stopped the infusions during this time 6. Starting up again in Summer 2004 ?the levels dipped low so we started with IV’s again (300 mg Glutathione, 300 Mg NAC, 2 grams Vitamin C.) We have done infusions in June, September and December. 7. IV levels were increased due to Jeff’s age and weight. He is now 7 years old and 65 lbs (all muscle and tough!)

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Acetaminophen: Watch dosage for children

Children can easily overdose on acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). To protect your child, always use the right dose and form. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) has long been the standard remedy for fever and pain in children. You can give acetaminophen drops to feverish newborns. You can buy acetaminophen at the grocery store without a prescription. But even good things, in excess, can harm you. That maxim is particularly appropriate when it comes to acetaminophen and children.

Acetaminophen: A popular drug
Acetaminophen is the most widely used pain reliever and fever reducer in the United States, and it's readily available in most parts of the world. It became a staple of the home medicine cabinet in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the connection between aspirin and Reye's syndrome ?a rare but potentially fatal childhood disease that affects the blood, liver and brain ?gained wide publicity. Doctors now strongly advise against giving children aspirin when they have a viral illness such as chickenpox or respiratory influenza.

Overdose is common

Partly because it is so easy to obtain, acetaminophen causes more overdoses and overdose deaths than any other drug in the United States. It's frequently the drug of choice for adolescent suicide attempts. Other overdoses occur simply because people underestimate or are unaware of acetaminophen's toxicity.

Acetaminophen can damage the livers of both adults and children. People who habitually drink excessive amounts of alcohol have a higher risk of liver damage from acetaminophen.

Dangers of liver damage
You can't live without a liver. It produces the bile that helps you digest your food. It manufactures the clotting factors that stop the bleeding when you cut your finger. It stores energy and iron reserves. And it breaks down or removes many chemicals and drugs that enter your bloodstream.

Too much acetaminophen overloads the liver's ability to process the drug safely. Its toxic byproducts injure the liver, and kidney failure also can occur. A severe acetaminophen overdose can be fatal. Luckily, there is an antidote ?called N-acetylcysteine (NAC) ?but it must be administered within eight to 10 hours after an overdose has been ingested.

How overdoses occur
Serious cases of acetaminophen overdose occur when parents unwittingly give a child too much of the medicine. The symptoms of overdose ?nausea, vomiting, stomachache ?can be caused by so many common illnesses, it's often not apparent that the child needs emergency medical treatment.

Parents can make a variety of mistakes in the amount of acetaminophen they give their children. Some aren't satisfied with the performance of the recommended dosage of acetaminophen, and decide more will be better. Others may mistakenly give adult tablets instead of the children's formulation.

Even the children's versions of acetaminophen come in many different formulations, and the dosage varies for each one. For example, the infant drop formulation is three times as concentrated as the elixir or syrup typically given to toddlers.

It's easy to see how a busy parent might assume that both liquids contain the same amount of medicine. But substituting infant drops for syrup could result in a dose of acetaminophen three times what it should be.

Many cold remedies already contain acetaminophen, so parents may accidentally cause an overdose by giving acetaminophen in addition to these preparations.

Dangerous exploration Overdoses also can occur when children, particularly toddlers, come across the medicine during an unauthorized exploration of a medicine cabinet or their mother's purse. They may mistake medicine for candy or juice.

This can be especially dangerous when the medicine is adult-strength acetaminophen. Adult tablets contain 325 milligrams (mg) or 500 mg of acetaminophen, while children's tablets contain only 80 mg or 160 mg.

Fortunately, the most common type of exploratory ingestion involves acetaminophen syrup. Children very rarely drink enough of this medicine to harm their livers.

How much is too much?

Many factors, including the child's age, determine how badly a particular dose of acetaminophen can damage the liver. For example, children under the age of 5 seem to be less susceptible to liver damage than are older children and adults. The amount of food in the child's stomach also is a factor.

To estimate the risk, doctors need to know how much the child weighs and how many milligrams of acetaminophen have been ingested.

In general, doctors recommend a visit to the emergency department in cases where a child may have ingested more than 15 mg of acetaminophen per 1 kilogram of the child's weight ?or 7 mg of acetaminophen per pound of the child's body weight.

Read the label! Acetaminophen is a safe and effective drug, when taken as recommended. Read the label carefully and don't give your child more than the recommended dosage. Just because a drug can be purchased without a prescription doesn't mean it can't harm your child




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