Glutathione vs NAC: What's the Difference? (2024)
What's the difference between glutathione and NAC? Which is the superior choice? Liposomal glutathione vs NAC? We will cover the essentials and explain about each of these nutrients below.
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a precursor to glutathione and a synthetic form of cysteine, a semi-essential amino acid. When consumed, NAC breaks down into cysteine, which is metabolized to glutathione. Glutathione is a vital antioxidant for proper immune system functioning and detoxification, as well as tissue building and repair.
Cysteine is a semi-essential amino acid. It’s considered semi-essential because your body can produce it from other amino acids, namely methionine and serine. It becomes essential only when the dietary intake of methionine and serine is low.
NAC is more stable and bioavailable than L-cysteine.
There is no specific dietary recommendation for cysteine because your body can produce small amounts.
For your body to make the amino acid cysteine, you need adequate amounts of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. These nutrients can be found in beans, lentils, spinach, bananas, salmon and tuna.
While most protein-rich foods, such as chicken, turkey, yogurt, cheese, eggs, sunflower seeds and legumes, contain cysteine, some people choose to supplement with NAC to increase their cysteine intake.
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a supplement form of cysteine. NAC has low bioavailability as an oral supplement, meaning that it’s not well absorbed. The accepted daily supplement recommendation is 600–1,800 mg of NAC (Source, Source).
NAC can be administered as an IV or taken orally, as an aerosol spray or in liquid or powder form.
Consuming adequate cysteine and NAC is important for a variety of health reasons — including replenishing the most powerful antioxidant in your body, glutathione.
NAC is valued primarily for its role in antioxidant production. Along with two other amino acids — glutamine and glycine — NAC is needed to make and replenish glutathione.
Glutathione is one of the body’s most important antioxidants, which helps neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues in your body.
People with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinning medications should not take NAC, as it may slow blood clotting (Source).
NAC has an unpleasant smell that makes it hard to consume. If you choose to take it, consult with your doctor first.
Glutathione
Glutathione or GSH (tripeptide of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine) is referred to as the body’s “master antioxidant” or the “mother of all antioxidants” because it is your body’s primary and most prevalent protector, found in all mammalian tissue.
L-Glutathione or Reduced Glutathione because it is the most commonly found, least expensive, and the true core behind other forms you will find. There is some debate whether L-Glutathione alone can be effective taken orally. The theory being the enzymes in your stomach break it down before it can ever reach the blood stream and become useful. Some evidence suggests using newer technology and measurement technique that reduced glutathione will actually be absorbed.
Liposomal glutathione is a form of glutathione with a protective barrier made of a fat that keeps it safe in transport through the stomach lining and into the blood stream. It's normally paired with Phosphatidylcholine, which creates the protective lipid layer. This technique is used in other medical technologies like vaccines. and should prove an effective way to protect the sensitive glutathione molecule.
Taking glutathione by mouth does not appear to be an effective way to get it into your body. Its bioavailability is low and is also thought that glutathione may be broken down by enzymes in the stomach.
While glutathione may be challenging for the body to process orally, there are ways to circumvent this difficulty.
By enclosing the fragile GSH compounds in a lipid barrier, liposomal formulations are able to get more of the active ingredient past the acidic environment of the stomach and into the intestines intact, where they can be fully absorbed into the body. Liposomal delivery systems have been improving the bioavailability of supplements, and even pharmaceuticals, for the last couple of decades.
In a 2018 study, liposomal Glutathione was found to increase the body’s stores of GSH, increasing markers of immune system function as well as reducing markers of oxidative stress. This could be significant for those who desire a healthier immune system in addition to the potential anti-aging benefit of GSH.
In addition to incorporating liposomal technology, Quicksilver Scientific Liposomal Glutathione uses a spray delivery, to be used sublingually, which further enhances its bioavailability. A 2017 study found glutathione, specifically sublingual glutathione, to be a valid use in reducing signs of cardiovascular damage in men.
So, which is the superior choice? Liposomal glutathione vs NAC? The answer will vary from person to person, but it is our belief that liposomal glutathione provides a more potent and direct method of antioxidant relief.
NADPH (also often confused with NAD) is responsible for generating free radicals in immune cells by NADPH oxidase. These radicals are used to destroy pathogens.
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There is no specific dietary recommendation for cysteine because your body can produce small amounts.
For your body to make the amino acid cysteine, you need adequate amounts of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. These nutrients can be found in beans, lentils, spinach, bananas, salmon and tuna.
While most protein-rich foods, such as chicken, turkey, yogurt, cheese, eggs, sunflower seeds and legumes, contain cysteine, some people choose to supplement with NAC to increase their cysteine intake.
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a supplement form of cysteine. NAC has low bioavailability as an oral supplement, meaning that it’s not well absorbed. The accepted daily supplement recommendation is 600–1,800 mg of NAC (Source, Source).
NAC can be administered as an IV or taken orally, as an aerosol spray or in liquid or powder form.
Consuming adequate cysteine and NAC is important for a variety of health reasons — including replenishing the most powerful antioxidant in your body, glutathione.
NAC is valued primarily for its role in antioxidant production. Along with two other amino acids — glutamine and glycine — NAC is needed to make and replenish glutathione.
Glutathione is one of the body’s most important antioxidants, which helps neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues in your body.
People with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinning medications should not take NAC, as it may slow blood clotting (Source).
NAC has an unpleasant smell that makes it hard to consume. If you choose to take it, consult with your doctor first.
Glutathione
Glutathione or GSH (tripeptide of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine) is referred to as the body’s “master antioxidant” or the “mother of all antioxidants” because it is your body’s primary and most prevalent protector, found in all mammalian tissue.
Types of Glutathione
There is a lot of confusion about GSH and what makes an effective glutathione supplement. There are different types, different formulas, and a lot of different companies saying different things.
Acetyl-Glutathione is an acetylated form of glutathione. Adding an acetyl function group to an existing molecule is something that has been done in medicine for many years. In fact “acetyl” is the difference between heroine and morphine. You have probably used an acetylated product in the form of acetyl-salicylic acid… or aspirin. The concept is the acetyl function group makes the molecule more stable and enhances delivery through the blood stream including to the brain. Unfortunately there are very few studies regarding acetyl-glutathione but the science behind it is strong, and anecdotal evidence would suggest this is the best glutathione form currently in supplements. It also tends to come at a higher price due to a more complicated production.
Whey Protein is technically a glutathione precursor. Whey protein get it’s own category because it’s so significant as one of the first and best ways to promote glutathione production in your body. Only a few years ago, the only reliable and simple way to boost GSH was to consume a good quality non-denatured whey protein powder. Cysteine tends to be the limiting factor in GSH production, and is found in good quality whey, making it strong healthy source of a good amino acid profile that boosts glutathione.
For more detailed info on glutathione, check out Essential Glutathione: The Mother of All AntioxidantsGlutathione vs NAC
Both are powerful antioxidants.
NAC has a low molecular weight and is well absorbed via oral administration. NAC is thought to have a higher bioavailability than standard oral GSH (Glutathione) formulas. This is primarily due to the fact that it bypasses the liver and therefore isn’t subjected to the same degradation that traditional oral formulations of GSH are.
Liposomal Glutathione vs NAC
While glutathione may be challenging for the body to process orally, there are ways to circumvent this difficulty.
By enclosing the fragile GSH compounds in a lipid barrier, liposomal formulations are able to get more of the active ingredient past the acidic environment of the stomach and into the intestines intact, where they can be fully absorbed into the body. Liposomal delivery systems have been improving the bioavailability of supplements, and even pharmaceuticals, for the last couple of decades.
In a 2018 study, liposomal Glutathione was found to increase the body’s stores of GSH, increasing markers of immune system function as well as reducing markers of oxidative stress. This could be significant for those who desire a healthier immune system in addition to the potential anti-aging benefit of GSH.
In addition to incorporating liposomal technology, Quicksilver Scientific Liposomal Glutathione uses a spray delivery, to be used sublingually, which further enhances its bioavailability. A 2017 study found glutathione, specifically sublingual glutathione, to be a valid use in reducing signs of cardiovascular damage in men.
So, which is the superior choice? Liposomal glutathione vs NAC? The answer will vary from person to person, but it is our belief that liposomal glutathione provides a more potent and direct method of antioxidant relief.
NAC and Cancer
Can NAC cause cancer to grow? Check out "Antioxidants May Make Cancer Worse".
NAC and Glycine
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine also looked into supplementation with a combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), two glutathione precursors known as GlyNAC when taken together.
A pilot trial in older humans (Kumar 2021) with GlyNAC supplementation for 24 weeks corrected glutathione deficiency and improved multiple measures of health, including:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction
- Oxidative stress
- Inflammation
- Endothelial dysfunction
- Insulin resistance
- Genomic damage
- Cognition
- Strength
- Gait speed
- Exercise capacity
- Body fat levels
- Waist circumference
NAC vs NAD
The similarity in terms of spelling with the only difference in one character, these two popular nutrients are often mixed up and confused by most consumers. However, scientifically these two molecules are related to two distinctively different nutrients. NAC is related to glutathione, an antioxidant whereas NAD is related to vitamin B complex.
NAD+ is primarily used in treatments for chronic fatigue, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases and in anti-aging field. While NAD+ is related to energy production, NAC is more focused on supporting the detoxification process in the body and the production of glutathione.
Hyperglycemia increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the resulting oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is one of the major sources of ROS production in diabetes. In this study, NAC inhibits NADPH oxidase activation in diabetes and reduces tissue oxidative damage in all organs.
Related: Glutathione vs NAD
Conclusion
Macronutrients and micronutrients are essential to a human body, there are no ifs and buts about it. Optimizing your immune system is critical to improve your health whether there is a pandemic or not.
Cytokines are an important part of your immune response. However, when your body releases excessive or uncontrolled levels of cytokines it results in hyper-inflammation called a cytokine storm. A cytokine storm may lead to serious complications and even death in serious COVID-19 cases and in other infections.
Optimizing your immune system with diet and lifestyle changes are critical to improving your health and to decrease your risk of a cytokine storm. However, therapeutics, vaccines and other physical strategies such as social distancing and mask wearing are also needed in order to protect yourself and your loved ones. It doesn't have to be an 'either or' situation. Combination strategies are normally more effective.
Cytokines are an important part of your immune response. However, when your body releases excessive or uncontrolled levels of cytokines it results in hyper-inflammation called a cytokine storm. A cytokine storm may lead to serious complications and even death in serious COVID-19 cases and in other infections.
Optimizing your immune system with diet and lifestyle changes are critical to improving your health and to decrease your risk of a cytokine storm. However, therapeutics, vaccines and other physical strategies such as social distancing and mask wearing are also needed in order to protect yourself and your loved ones. It doesn't have to be an 'either or' situation. Combination strategies are normally more effective.
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Target the root causes of aging with Liposomal Glutathione – the “master antioxidant," Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), and Resveratrol. This age-defying combination helps your cells clean up “dirty” DNA to increase energy production and reduce inflammation.
The Wellness Company combine these powerful ingredients with probiotics superior absorption. Feel like a younger version of yourself, everyday.
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- Resveratrol - A potent polyphenol that combats aging by activating sirtuin proteins to promote heart, cognitive and cellular health.
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