Discount: Jarrow Formulas N-A-C Sustain, Supports Liver and Lung Function, 600 mg, 100 Sustain tabs

N-A-C supplies readily available L-cysteine, which acts as an antioxidant itself or as a precursor to glutathione.* Glutathione is one of the body’s most important and abundant antioxidants inside of cells. The primary antioxidant mechanism involves the donation of an electron from the sulfhydryl (-SH) group of the cysteine molecule. Sulfhydryl-containing substances like N-A-C, cysteine, glutathione, and alpha-lipoic acid are referred to as reducing agents. This is opposed to oxidizing agents. Since reducing agents have opposing chemical functionality to oxidizing agents, reducing agents are also anti-oxidizing agents – or antioxidants. Antioxidants guard against the production and propagation of free radicals caused by oxidation. Antioxidants like cysteine act as electron donors and receptors to neutralize uncontrolled free radicals without becoming reactive or toxic themselves.* Glutathione, which contains cysteine, donates its own electrons to free radicals to reduce them to stable compounds. One example is the transformation of superoxide or peroxide to water. In the process, glutathione becomes oxidized. It is then reactivated by the donation of electrons and protons to become reduced glutathione, thereby making it electron-rich again and ready to scavenge yet more free radicals. Making cysteine more available to the body encourages the production of glutathione. Cysteine is also an antioxidant in its own right by virtue of its sulfhydryl group, and plays a vital role in the stability and functioning of proteins.* Cysteine, in proteins, also interacts with iron and zinc in the body to form enzymes that help coordinate respiration, energy production, immune surveillance, and repair functions in all tissues.* In hospital practice, N-A-C, rather than reduced glutathione, is given to support blood levels of glutathione.*

Cysteine can neutralize chemicals known as aldehydes produced by air pollutants (i. e., smoke), some drugs, and by the liver as a byproduct of alcohol metabolism.* N-A-C is therefore important for maintaining the body’s antioxidant defenses in the face of everyday assaults.* N-A-C may be beneficial in reducing side effects of the pain reliever acetaminophen, particularly when ingested with alcohol, or taken in excessive amounts. Acetaminophen poisoning is the most common cause of calls to poison control centers in the United States. It causes severe damage to the liver. N-A-C supports the health of liver tissue by replenishing liver glutathione levels and also by enhancing the delivery of oxygen to liver cells.*

N-A-C Sustain is a bilayer quick release/sustained release N-A-C formulation. One third of the N-A-C releases rapidly and two thirds releases slowly over time. This raises blood levels quickly while also sustaining them.* N-A-C SUSTAIN releases in the small intestine over a longer period, which greatly assists in N-A-C antioxidant effect beyond the typical biological half-life (1. 5 hours) of N-A-C in the bloodstream.*