NAC & ALA

NAC & ALA

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine & R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid

500 mg/200 mg

90 Capsules ( SKU: 9525, NPN: 80120670 )

Benefits

  • Provides clinically relevant doses of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)
  • NAC and ALA have direct antioxidant action and enhance the synthesis and regeneration of glutathione, the key cellular antioxidant
  • Supports mitochondrial function as well as phase II antioxidant enzyme upregulation
  • Targets central mediators of inflammation
  • Improves endothelial function and supports nitric oxide synthesis
  • Reduces hyperglycemia-associated damage
  • Suitable for vegetarians

Feature Summary

NAC and ALA are highly complementary nutrients, critical to cellular function and mitigation of hyperglycemia-associated damage. NAC drives the synthesis of glutathione, often depleted in cardiovascular diseases and metabolic and oxidative stress conditions.1,2 NAC also has direct antioxidant activity, restores pools of intracellular thiols, and has an anti-inflammatory effect, mediated via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).3 Glutathione is needed for the detoxification of many persistent organic pollutants, compounds known to impair mitochondrial function, adipose tissue metabolism, and pancreatic islet cell function.4 In addition to glutathione support, NAC enhances antioxidant protection through multiple pathways, including upregulation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) activation, suggesting a significant potential to mitigate pathology due to oxidative stress.5 Clinical trials have shown that NAC restores intraplatelet glutathione levels in certain populations – a marker of atherothrombotic risk – reduces homocysteine, and improves endothelial function in coronary artery disease (at doses of 600–1800 mg/day).6,7

ALA, in turn, recycles antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and glutathione, and is a cofactor for several mitochondrial enzymes as well as glutathione reductase.8 It supports glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in individuals with inadequate glucose control, endothelial function among people with impaired glucose tolerance, and weight control among obese subjects.9,10,11 It has a well-recognized benefit for mitigating the neuronal oxidative damage resulting from hyperglycemia.12,13 Clinical trial data has shown improvement in multiple markers of oxidative stress and vascular inflammation in a variety of populations.14,15 Its antioxidant and neuroprotective effects may also provide protection against neurodegeneration and a range of oxidant-associated diseases.16,17

Medicinal Ingredients

Each Capsule Contains:
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine 250 mg
R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid 100 mg

Non-Medicinal Ingredients

Vegetarian capsule (carbohydrate gum [cellulose], purified water), dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate, vegetable grade magnesium stearate (lubricant), silica, stearic acid.

Dosage:

Recommended Adult Dose: 1 capsule 2 times per day with a meal or as directed by a health care practitioner.

Warnings:

Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have diabetes or kidney stones. Stop use and consult a health care practitioner if you experience sweating, paleness, chills, headache, dizziness, and/or confusion (as these may be symptoms of serious low blood sugar). Do not use this product if you are taking antibiotics or nitroglycerin. Keep out of reach of children.

Allergens:

Contains no artificial colours, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, starch, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, salt, tree nuts, or GMOs. Suitable for vegetarians. Sealed for your protection. Do not use if seal is broken. For freshness, store in a cool, dry place.

Contraindications

Avoid use with acetylcysteine allergy and use with caution in individuals with asthma. 

Drug Interactions

ALA was shown to prevent drug-induced weight gain associated with atypical antipsychotics without reducing drug efficacy.18,19 Caution should be used with anti-diabetes medications, as they may have additive hypoglycemic effects. Long-term use may warrant low dose copper and/or thiamine supplementation. Although NAC may reduce nitroglycerin tolerance and improve its efficacy for unstable angina, severe headaches and hypotension may occur. NAC may also reduce the capacity of activated charcoal to absorb acetaminophen. NAC is shown to prevent the drop in GSH following acetaminophen use, without interfering with antinociceptive effects.20

  1. Rushworth, G.F., & Megson, I.L. (2014). Existing and potential therapeutic uses for N-acetylcysteine: the need for conversion to intracellular glutathione for antioxidant benefits. Pharmacol Ther, 141(2), 150-9.
  2. Dodd, S., Dean, O., Copolov, D.L., et al. (2008). N-acetylcysteine for antioxidant therapy: pharmacology and clinical utility. Expert Opin Biol Ther, 8(12), 1955-62.
  3. Tenório, M.C.D.S., Graciliano, N.G., Moura, F.A., et al. (2021). N-Acetylcysteine (NAC): impacts on human health. Antioxidants (Basel), 10(6), 967.
  4. Lee, D.-H., Lee, I.-K., Song, K., et al. (2006). A strong dose-response relation between serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and diabetes: results from the National Health and Examination Survey 1999-2002. Diabetes Care, 29(7), 1638-44.
  5. Dludla, P.V., Dias, S.C., Obonye, N., et al. (2018). A systematic review on the protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine against diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs, 18(4), 283-98.
  6. Yilmaz, H., Sahin, S., Sayar, N., et al. (2007). Effects of folic acid and N-acetylcysteine on plasma homocysteine levels and endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease. Acta Cardiol, 62(6), 579-85.
  7. Treweeke, A.T.,, Winterburn, T.J., Mackenzie, I., et al. (2012). N-Acetylcysteine inhibits platelet-monocyte conjugation in patients with type 2 diabetes with depleted intraplatelet glutathione: a randomised controlled trial. Diabetologia, 55(11), 2920-8.
  8. Liu, J. (2011). The effects and mechanisms of mitochondrial nutrient alpha-lipoic acid on improving age-associated mitochondrial and cognitive dysfunction: an overview. Neurochem Res, 33(1), 194-203.
  9. Kamenova, P. (2006). Improvement of insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid. Hormones (Athens), 5(4), 251-8.
  10. Sola, S., Mir, M.Q.S., Cheema, F.A., et al. (2005). Irbesartan and lipoic acid improve endothelial function and reduce markers of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome: results of the Irbesartan and Lipoic Acid in Endothelial Dysfunction (ISLAND) study. Circulation, 111(3), 343-8.
  11. Kucukgoncu, S., Zhou, E., Lucas, K.B., et al. (2017). Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as a supplementation for weight loss: results from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev, 18(5), 594-601.
  12. Tang, J., Wingerchuk, D.M., Crum, B.A., et al. (2007). Alpha-lipoic acid may improve symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy. Neurologist, 13(3), 164-7.
  13. Ziegler, D., Schatz, H., Conrad, F., et al. (1997). Effects of treatment with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid on cardiac autonomic neuropathy in NIDDM patients. A 4-month randomized controlled multicenter trial (DEKAN Study). Deutsche Kardiale Autonome Neuropathie. Diabetes Care, 20(3), 369-73.
  14. Kelishadi, M.R., Naeini, A.A., Askari, G., et al. (2021). The efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid in improving oxidative, inflammatory, and mood status in women with episodic migraine in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Int J Clin Pract, 75(9), e14455.
  15. Khabbazi, T., Mahdavi, R., Safa, J., et al. (2012). Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and serum lipid profile levels in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. J Ren Nutr, 22(2), 244-50.
  16. Maczurek, A., Hager, K., Kenklies, M., et al. (2008). Lipoic acid as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Adv Drug Deliv Rev, 60(13-14), 1463-70.
  17. Sun, Y.-D., Dong, Y.-D., Fan, R., et al. (2012). Effect of (R)-α-lipoic acid supplementation on serum lipids and antioxidative ability in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Ann Nutr Metab, 60(4), 293-7.
  18. Kim, E., Park, D.-W., Choi, S.-H., et al. (2008). A preliminary investigation of alpha-lipoic acid treatment of antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain in patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol, 28(2), 138-46.
  19. De Sousa, C.N.S., Leite, C.M.G.S., Medeiros, I.S., et al. (2019). Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders: a systematic review. Metab Brain Dis, 34(1), 39-52.
  20. Pickering, G., Macian, N., Papet, I., et al. (2019). N-acetylcysteine prevents glutathione decrease and does not interfere with paracetamol antinociceptive effect at therapeutic dosage: a randomized double-blind controlled trial in healthy subjects. Fundam Clin Pharmacol, 33(3), 303-11.