N-Acetylcysteine

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is the supplemental form of the amino acid cysteine and the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis — the body's most important endogenous antioxidant. NAC directly provides the cysteine needed for glutathione production in the liver and has mucolytic properties (thinning mucus). It has decades of clinical use in acetaminophen overdose treatment and as a mucolytic agent. Emerging evidence supports NAC supplementation for oxidative stress conditions, mental health, and respiratory health. Hair follicles are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress, and NAC may protect against follicular damage.