I made a comment to AMZ, but it's likely that as a tripeptide it easily gets metabolized by enzymes or even acid-catalysis. I haven't looked too deeply into it but from what I've seen GSH is generally very difficult to absorb.
Thank you for responding! I'm going to pretend I understood your answer fully but then expose my ignorance blatantly by asking- my supplement also has 50mg of alpha lipoic acid- does that help? Or would you recommend the NAC supplement? I'm sorry to bother you but I just had a battle with cancer and I do think I have a problem with ROS that I'm trying to stabilize...
Hi Charlotte. I've heard doctors say that the body doesn't really retain much oral glutathione. NAC, however, triggers the body to make more natural glutathione. Apparently, taking it with glycine is even better. I just started taking NAC a couple weeks ago.
My understanding that the bio-availability of glutathione taken orally is basically nil, and that even if it were given via some method that bypasses the digestive tract, that it would not get into the cells where it's needed. Glutathione is made in the cells, and the way to improve glutathione levels is to take something addresses the limiting factor in its production, which NAC does.
As a peptide I assume it's likely to undergo some type of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis or digestion from enzymes. I haven't looked into it much but many supplements are metabolized very early on but as a peptide I can see it being targeted by enzymes easily.
I've never heard of the Herxheimer reaction, but from what I looked there was one study suggesting that Thimerosal toxicity is due to GSH depletion, so it may actually be a lack of GSH preventing toxicity akin to NAPQI, but I haven't looked into the Herxheimer reaction.
Good article! This is very interesting to me, because I take 500mg N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (Thorne) and 500mg glutathione reduced (Jarrow) as immune boosters, daily.
Thanks. I always like to review why I am taking particular supplements or herbs after I've forgotten why. Precursor to glutathione was and still is my main reason.
"I saw a few people comment that they decided to order additional NAC"
Yup. Ever since Amazon started pulling it in the Spring of 2021. I'm an incorrigible contrarian like that. If some bureaucrat suggests removing something I use from the market, you can be certain I'll stock up.
That's kind of the reason I bought some, although I'm not sure to what extent I would use it, but similarly it was a bit of a reaction to the response and being able to find some.
Thanks for this...I took some NAC after I got sick with my now chronic condition on the advice of my integrative doctor...didn't find it made any noticeable difference but I was using capsules...and since I can't swallow large capsules, if I can, I open them up and put the ingredients on some food typically. Yes, it smells like rotten eggs. Went down OK though. I guess I should throw out that last bit I was saving as it has probably oxidized by now.
I'm noticing a few people responding with mixed results, which is really interesting. It's like having a few anecdotal case reports! But I'm sorry it didn't seem to have an effect on you. I suppose that comes down to whether the MOA of NAC would be involved with the given conditions.
As to the oxidation it's really hard to tell. Apparently cells may be able to take NAC dimers and possibly break them up, or they may be used for other biochemical processes. The bottle I bought recently smelled really bad, and so I can't really tell if it's the packaging or if much of it has been oxidized. That's the problem with sulfur compounds 🤷♂️
I'm sorry to hear that AMZ. It could be possible inhibitors of the GSH enzyme pathway may prevent the formation of GSH. There's plenty of many factors that could be responsible. Enzymes do use many metal ions as cofactors, but that would require looking into the reaction mechanism and seeing if metal cations may be important.
That really is great to hear in regards to doing the research. I've started having a more keen eye and really wanting to understand the supplements that I take. I think we should be cautious of taking things because people say we should without looking much into the items. I'd honestly say if you're doing your own research you're most likely much smarter!
Great article! I only have one question- wouldn't it make more sense to just take glutathione? I'm currently taking that supplement...
I made a comment to AMZ, but it's likely that as a tripeptide it easily gets metabolized by enzymes or even acid-catalysis. I haven't looked too deeply into it but from what I've seen GSH is generally very difficult to absorb.
Or would you recommend hydrogen water? It seems to have beneficial aspects to it with ROS...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27554678/
Thank you for responding! I'm going to pretend I understood your answer fully but then expose my ignorance blatantly by asking- my supplement also has 50mg of alpha lipoic acid- does that help? Or would you recommend the NAC supplement? I'm sorry to bother you but I just had a battle with cancer and I do think I have a problem with ROS that I'm trying to stabilize...
I wonder this as well. Already had covid but always looking for OTC things to help my elderly parents if they get it.
Hi Charlotte. I've heard doctors say that the body doesn't really retain much oral glutathione. NAC, however, triggers the body to make more natural glutathione. Apparently, taking it with glycine is even better. I just started taking NAC a couple weeks ago.
Dr. Brad explains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7f1oaVtE0M
I suggest reading the study he cites for yourself. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much! Very much appreciated!
My understanding that the bio-availability of glutathione taken orally is basically nil, and that even if it were given via some method that bypasses the digestive tract, that it would not get into the cells where it's needed. Glutathione is made in the cells, and the way to improve glutathione levels is to take something addresses the limiting factor in its production, which NAC does.
Thank you!
As a peptide I assume it's likely to undergo some type of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis or digestion from enzymes. I haven't looked into it much but many supplements are metabolized very early on but as a peptide I can see it being targeted by enzymes easily.
Yes,I used it IV for mold toxicity, but didn't get benefit that I could feel.
Sorry to hear that Paul. I haven't heard of that and I may look into it.
Well, the mold treatment diagnosis and treatment is full of suggested treatments etc. Made my own placebos instead and got better
I've never heard of the Herxheimer reaction, but from what I looked there was one study suggesting that Thimerosal toxicity is due to GSH depletion, so it may actually be a lack of GSH preventing toxicity akin to NAPQI, but I haven't looked into the Herxheimer reaction.
Good article! This is very interesting to me, because I take 500mg N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (Thorne) and 500mg glutathione reduced (Jarrow) as immune boosters, daily.
Thanks. I always like to review why I am taking particular supplements or herbs after I've forgotten why. Precursor to glutathione was and still is my main reason.
Aloha
Glad to hear that Paul!
"I saw a few people comment that they decided to order additional NAC"
Yup. Ever since Amazon started pulling it in the Spring of 2021. I'm an incorrigible contrarian like that. If some bureaucrat suggests removing something I use from the market, you can be certain I'll stock up.
That's kind of the reason I bought some, although I'm not sure to what extent I would use it, but similarly it was a bit of a reaction to the response and being able to find some.
Thanks for this...I took some NAC after I got sick with my now chronic condition on the advice of my integrative doctor...didn't find it made any noticeable difference but I was using capsules...and since I can't swallow large capsules, if I can, I open them up and put the ingredients on some food typically. Yes, it smells like rotten eggs. Went down OK though. I guess I should throw out that last bit I was saving as it has probably oxidized by now.
I'm noticing a few people responding with mixed results, which is really interesting. It's like having a few anecdotal case reports! But I'm sorry it didn't seem to have an effect on you. I suppose that comes down to whether the MOA of NAC would be involved with the given conditions.
As to the oxidation it's really hard to tell. Apparently cells may be able to take NAC dimers and possibly break them up, or they may be used for other biochemical processes. The bottle I bought recently smelled really bad, and so I can't really tell if it's the packaging or if much of it has been oxidized. That's the problem with sulfur compounds 🤷♂️
I'm sorry to hear that AMZ. It could be possible inhibitors of the GSH enzyme pathway may prevent the formation of GSH. There's plenty of many factors that could be responsible. Enzymes do use many metal ions as cofactors, but that would require looking into the reaction mechanism and seeing if metal cations may be important.
That really is great to hear in regards to doing the research. I've started having a more keen eye and really wanting to understand the supplements that I take. I think we should be cautious of taking things because people say we should without looking much into the items. I'd honestly say if you're doing your own research you're most likely much smarter!