Summary
Steven Crowder and his team discuss the FDA's controversial move to restrict NAC (N-acetylcysteine) from being sold as a supplement during the COVID-19 pandemic. They explain that NAC is a precursor to glutathione, which is concentrated in the liver and lungs, and has been used in hospitals for decades to treat acetaminophen overdose. The show covers research showing NAC reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, scavenges peroxides released by white blood cells, and reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia by 20%. They argue the FDA's reclassification of NAC as a drug rather than a supplement raises concerns about access to an effective, inexpensive, and safe compound.
Key Points
- NAC is an amino acid derivative the body uses to produce glutathione, concentrated in liver and lungs
- Hospitals give intravenous NAC for acetaminophen overdose due to its proven liver-protective effects
- NAC was found to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to cytokine storms in severe COVID-19
- Research showed NAC reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia from 46% to 26%, a 20% reduction
- The FDA attempted to reclassify NAC from supplement to drug, causing Amazon and other retailers to pull it
- NAC has a wide therapeutic window meaning excess is safely excreted by the body
- NAC has been used for decades for COPD, bronchitis, and pneumonia
Key Moments
NAC produces glutathione concentrated in liver and lungs
Crowder explains that NAC is a derivative amino acid the body uses to create glutathione, the master antioxidant concentrated at highest levels in the liver and lungs, with additional immune-modulating effects.
"So NAC is basically an amino acid. You could call it a derivative amino acid."
NAC is used in hospitals for acetaminophen overdose and liver protection
The team discusses how hospitals use intravenous NAC for acetaminophen overdose treatment and how people in the wine industry use NAC for liver protection, with a nurse fact-checking and confirming the hospital use on air.
"What do they do in hospitals? They give you intravenous NAC. It works. It is medically used, right? Because it actually, you've heard the term detox? No, no. Your dandelion root isn't going to detox you if you drink a bottle of children's Tylenol. You go to a hospital, they IV NAC to you"
NAC reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia by 20% in research
Crowder reviews PubMed research showing NAC reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines contributing to cytokine storms, scavenges peroxides from white blood cells that cause lung injury, and reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia from 46% to 26%.
"NAC was found to be useful as a prophylaxis agent against forms of pneumonia, and it reduced the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia by about 20 percent so down from 46 percent to 26 percent"
FDA reclassification of NAC as a drug sparked supplement access concerns
The FDA sent letters to manufacturers saying NAC must stop being sold as a supplement because it was first approved as a drug in 1963, an unprecedented move from drug to supplement and back to drug that effectively removed it from Amazon and Whole Foods.
"Oh, so like the opposite of the vaccine? Yeah, like the opposite of that. So the FDA sent a letter to manufacturers companies saying you have to stop selling Mac."
