Learn About NAC, It Isn't Bioenergetic

[basebolt]

Dr Peat was against excitatory amino acids like tryptophan, aspartate, and cysteine. He also spoke against superphysiological antioxidants/reductants.

NAC acts as an antioxidant on its own and also generates glutathione. This study shows it helps boost brain glucose metabolism and cognition in MS patients.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7033492/

They did 50mg/kg infusions per week with oral supplementation inbetween, for two months.

This seems good. If NAC was bad, wouldn't cognition be worse and brain energy metabolism measured become worse?

I've heard Ray comment on the supposed pro-cognitive benefits of estrogen. He explained that cocaine boosts cognitive function yet you probably wouldn't want to chronically take it, just like estrogen.

Maybe this is the case with NAC too.

More for the case against it:
1.
I've seen some research showing at a high dose it could be neurotoxic but lower doses were neuroprotective.

There was a post on RPF I can't find that mentioned and linked to a research study showing negative effects of NAC on rodents' lungs when taken long-term.

3. Has a reputation for inducing anhedonia.

The case for NAC:
1.
Recently I found
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8813647/

Suggesting ascorbic acid could protect against potential neurotoxicity of NAC.

NAC is known to help OCD symptoms.

3. My personal experience of receiving 6 grams of NAC via IV. It had a miraculous effect on my atypical depression, similar to when I first started niacin. Only lasted a few hours though. Orally it doesn't do anything.

4. NAC is very effective in protecting the liver from toxins. It is very effective in helping reduce auditory damage and brain damage from battlefield trauma.

My conclusion:
Peat is generally right about it. Some chronic disease states and acute injury states may physiologically benefit from NAC but there are probably more bioenergetically-aligned things like progesterone + DHEA that would be better. In any case, detrimental effects can be offset by ascorbic acid (with pro-oxidizers like INOSINE), probably gelatin protein, and using the minimal effective dose for the shortest amount of time. These things are good to know when experimenting with it, as many people may be tempted to do.

[Ben.]

I am not sure it is that easy with NAC. Anecdotes are often incredible.

It is a (weakish) biofilm buster, scavenges aldehydes, interacts with heavy metals (iirc positively) along with what you already mentioned increasing glutathion. There is alot more to it and i think its magic as with most things lies in the right application at the right time.

Most chronic ill people i speculate have a bad persistent infection going on where NAC has its place.

In that sense it would help the energetic situation as its helping dealing with toxins and pathogens. As for a more general statement in healthy people i could see it being a net negative?

Even more so what one should consider doing to offset negative outcomes that could come with longterm use (ive been taking it for half a year now)