What is N-Acetyl-L-cysteine:
N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an essential drug, widely used for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose (paracetamol) and more recently as a mucolytic agent, in respiratory diseases. In some countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, NAC is commonly available as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement, with antioxidant properties and great commercial appeal as a nutraceutical. The primary role of NAC is associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which favors the maintenance of a cellular redox imbalance. For this reason, its therapeutic potential concerns a series of diseases that link oxidative stress to its etiology and progression.