N-Acetylcysteine (also known as Acetylcysteine, NAC, or N-Acetyl Cysteine) is an antioxidant and mucolytic agent which has a variety of beneficial uses.
Antioxidant: N-Acetylcysteine can be used as an antioxidant to help reduce oxidative stress.
Liver protection: N-Acetylcysteine has been shown to reduce the extent of liver injury following acetaminophen overdose (in humans). It may help prevent oxidative stress and stabilize hepatocellular membranes in poultry with liver damage.
Prevention of acute renal failure: N-Acetylcysteine is used in humans with renal impairment to prevent the precipitation of acute renal failure.
Brain injury: N-Acetylcysteine has been shown to have efficacy in treating mild to moderate traumatic brain injury in rats and humans, and may help reduce neurological symptoms when administered promptly after injury.
Respiratory disease: N-Acetylcysteine has been used efficacy in humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Bowles, H., Lichtenberger, M., & Lennox, A. Emergency and critical care of pet birds. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 10(2), 345-394. (2007)
