N-Acetyl L-Cysteine, aka NAC, is a synthetically made form of the amino acid L-cysteine. It is a widely used supplement for a variety of health issues, but its primary use is to promote antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the body. NAC serves as a precursor to the most powerful intracellular antioxidant in the body called glutathione.
Although the human body can produce cysteine on its own, and can also obtain it from food, it has been shown that additional supplementation with NAC may provide several health and medicinal benefits.
In its orally administered form, NAC has not been approved by the FDA for medical use. However, some inhalable forms of it have been approved for the treatment of certain health conditions. Because of this, there has lately been a legal dispute between the FDA and supplement manufacturers over the classification of this compound. And that in turn has led to many companies and retailers, including Amazon, discontinuing the sale of this item while awaiting more clarity from the FDA.
A final decision hasn’t yet been reached by the FDA on whether to continue allowing the sale of NAC as a dietary supplement or not. In the meantime, there are plenty of manufacturers that still legally make and sell this product.
The following are six of the best NAC supplement brands you can find and buy online. The included links point to a reliable online vendor where you can order each product.
1. Thorne
Thorne is one of the most highly-regarded practitioner supplement brands in the USA. They make various formulas that are intended for professional use as their products are mainly distributed through healthcare practitioners.
This company has outstanding quality and safety standards. They source their raw materials from reputable global suppliers and they test all ingredients to ensure they are authentic and free from common contaminants. They also avoid using any unnecessary fillers, preservatives or artificial flavors/sweeteners.
The only complaint you may often hear about this brand is the high price point, which is actually a common drawback of practitioner-focused companies in general. Many users trust the products made by this company and don’t mind paying a little extra for it, but if you are looking for a more affordable option, check out some of the other recommendations below.
Product specifications
- Form: Capsule (plant-based)
- Strength: 500 mg per serving
- Serving size: 1 capsule
- Servings per container: 90
- Price: $25
- Price per serving: $0.28
- Additional ingredients: Hypromellose, leucine, silicon dioxide
- Link: Buy Here
2. Life Extension
Speaking about affordable, Life Extension is currently offering NAC at a very competitive price. While many other manufacturers have recently hiked the price of this popular supplement, LE keeps selling it at a fairly low price. This made them one of the top destinations for customers looking to buy some quality NAC and skip the unnecessary markup.
Life Extension has been in the supplement business for decades and they’ve earned a reputation as a trusted supplier of quality nutritional formulas and multivitamins. They put a lot of emphasis on the science and research behind their products, although some people have complained about certain claims being more promotional and lacking adequate scientific backing — the same can also be said about almost all other companies in this industry, to be fair!
Product specifications
- Form: Capsule (vegetarian)
- Strength: 600 mg per serving
- Serving size: 1 capsule
- Servings per container: 60
- Price: $10.50
- Price per serving: $0.17
- Additional ingredients: Cellulose, vegetable stearate, silica
- Link: Buy Here
3. Pure Encapsulations
Let’s jump back to the higher end of the price scale, because we can’t talk about the best NAC supplements and miss this one. Similar to Thorne, Pure Encapsulations is a premium practitioner brand and one of the most distinguished makers of professional dietary supplements in the USA.
The company doesn’t call itself “pure” just for marketing purposes, they are known to have strict quality control procedures and they use thoroughly-tested, clean ingredients that are free from GMOs, harmful chemicals, and any unnecessary fillers or additives. Additionally, their products are hypoallergenic, i.e. free from the most common allergens (unless listed on the label).
Again, the price for this one is on the higher end, but if your budget allows then this is a great quality brand to try out.
Product specifications
- Form: Capsule (vegetarian)
- Strength: 600 mg per serving
- Serving size: 1 capsule
- Servings per container: 90
- Price: $31.10
- Price per serving: $0.34
- Additional ingredients: Cellulose, ascorbyl palmitate
- Link: Buy Here
4. NOW
NOW Foods is one of the largest manufacturers of nutritional supplements in the world. There are a few reasons why many people trust this company: they use high-quality ingredients that are comprehensively tested for effectiveness and safety, they are committed to sustainable sourcing and environmentally friendly packaging, and most notably, their prices are hard to beat for the quality you get.
One important note about NOW’s NAC is that in the capsule formula, they use two additional minerals intended to help the body utilize NAC more efficiently. These minerals are selenium and molybdenum. Some people may not tolerate these ingredients, and taking more than one capsule may expose your body to a high dose of these minerals resulting in side effects. Also, when exposed to air, they may oxidize and form dark specks inside the capsules (not mold). If you want to avoid these issues, you can choose the tablet formula instead, which comes with a higher dosage and without the two aforementioned minerals.
Product specifications
- Form: Capsule (vegetarian)
- Strength: 600 mg per serving
- Serving size: 1 capsule
- Servings per container: 100
- Price: $13.62
- Price per serving: $0.14
- Additional ingredients: Selenium, molybdenum, cellulose, stearic acid, citric acid
- Link: Buy Here
5. Integrative Therapeutics
Integrative Therapeutics is another reputable practitioner brand on the market. They make many outstanding formulas using high-quality ingredients. Their products are very clean and the labels are professional and without any big claims. Note that the capsules are made from gelatin, so this isn’t a vegetarian product.
Product specifications
- Form: Capsule (gelatin)
- Strength: 600 mg per serving
- Serving size: 1 capsule
- Servings per container: 60
- Price: $17.50
- Price per serving: $0.29
- Additional ingredients: Gelatin, cellulose, calcium laurate
- Link: Buy Here
6. Source Naturals
Last but not least, Source Naturals is a decent brand to consider if you are looking for authentic natural and herbal supplements at a low price, because that’s exactly what they offer. The NAC they make comes in 600 mg as well as 1000 mg tablets. This means that the unpleasant sulfuric odor of NAC can be a little stronger compared to encapsulated forms, but that’s a natural characteristic of this compound.
Product specifications
- Form: Tablet
- Strength: 600 mg per serving
- Serving size: 1 tablet
- Servings per container: 120
- Price: $19.37
- Price per serving: $0.16
- Additional ingredients: Stearic acid, cellulose, silicon dioxide, modified cellulose gum, magnesium stearate, dibasic calcium phosphate
- Link: Buy Here
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does NAC Work?
N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC) is a source of the semi-essential amino acid cysteine, which is one of three amino acids the body needs to produce the antioxidant glutathione. The other two amino acids needed are glycine and glutamate. Since cysteine is the rate-limiting factor in the biosynthesis of glutathione, increasing its levels through NAC supplementation can significantly boost the production of this powerful antioxidant. Additionally, NAC has a mucus thinning effect and can help reduce the buildup of mucus in the respiratory tract.
Does NAC Work For Everyone?
No, it doesn’t! This supplement has the potential to improve certain aspects of physical and mental well-being and it has numerous potential health benefits, but just like any other supplement out there, not everyone may find it useful. Most of its benefits are attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. If you are a healthy person, you should have no reason to take this supplement and it probably won’t provide you with any significant benefits.
Why Can’t You Buy NAC on Amazon?
Amazon decided to stop selling NAC and completely banned sellers from listing this product on their platform back in 2021. Their decision followed several FDA warning letters to companies that were marketing NAC-containing products with unapproved medical claims.
While the FDA hasn’t banned the sale of NAC, there is an ongoing legal dispute between them and the supplement industry over whether NAC can be labeled as a dietary supplement or not. In the meantime, Amazon opted to stay on the safe side and avoid the controversy by removing all NAC products from their website.
How Much NAC Should You Take?
There isn’t a specific standard dosage for this supplement, however, the generally recommended daily dosage ranges from 500 mg to 1000 mg. It’s better to seek professional medical advice and consult a doctor about the right dosage for you.
Is NAC Safe For Everyone?
Generally speaking, NAC is well tolerated and rarely causes any side effects. But each body is different, and there have been reports of some side effects associated with the use of this compound. The most common adverse effects are: diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, fatigue and depressed mood. Again, it’s highly recommended that you consult with a doctor to discuss the potential benefits and safety of this supplement prior to using it.
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