NAC Supplementation

NAC How to avoid surgery using a simple, inexpensive supplement!

NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) is a supplement that is well known for its ability to prevent cancer cells of a certain cell type (specifically epithelial cells) from growing, helping the liver make glutathione (your body’s main detoxifier), and helps detoxify heavy metals. It turns out that NAC causes these epithelial cells to undergo a change which not only prevents growth, but also lowers the cells desire to travel around the body. Remember, one of the theories of how women develop endometriosis is by epithelial cells traveling through the lymph system.

A recent study looked at 92 women who were split into 2 groups. One group did not receive NAC (control) and the other group took 600mg of NAC three times a day, three days in a row, for 3 months. In order for these women to qualify for the study, the following conditions had to be met:

An ultrasound showing an ovarian endometrioma
Did not receive any steroids (hydrocortisone, methylprednisone, prednisone, etc) in the last 2 months
A laparoscopy scheduled for a large ovarian endometrioma or for pain or infertility

At the end of 3 months, the 2 groups a doctor (who did not know the women were treated with anything) examined the endometriomas. These ultrasounds were done by day 8 or earlier (the follicular phase)

The results were rather astonishing. Women treated with NAC:

Did NOT experience cyst growth compared to the control group.
Had a greater number of cysts shrink.
8 women had cysts disappear completely.
24 women out of 47 women actually canceled their SCHEDULED laparoscopy versus only 1 woman in the control group.
Did not have their fertility affected: 8 women became pregnant, either during the study or within 12 months.

Even more exciting, women who took NAC saw their endometrioma volume (how much fluid was in the lesion) decrease on average by 28.9ml and the diameter of the lesion decrease by 8.2mm, on average. In contrast, women who took birth control pills for 4 months only saw a decrease of 2.4 ml in volume and 1.6mm in diameter, a more than 10 fold and 5 fold improvement

Take home points:

NAC should be a part of every endometriosis suffering woman’s supplement regimen. I wish I had known about NAC before my 2 laparoscopies that took place three months apart. NAC has been shown to be safe, well tolerated and is a great supplement to consider for women hoping to become pregnant as it will not affect their fertility. I personally take NAC from Pure Encapsulations to help protect me from having my endometriosis come back again.

If you are interested in trying NAC, click on the Shop Our Supplement tab below or use this link and search for endometriosis. You will save 10% on all pharmaceutical grade supplements on HealthWave!

Please let me know how NAC helps you in the comments below. NAC