NAC and COVID-19: Liver Supplement Crucial Role in Preventing and Treating COVID-19
This article was previously published November 10, 2020, and has been updated with new information. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a precursor to reduced glutathione, which appears to play a crucial role in COVID-19. According to an April 2020 literature analysis, 1 glutathione deficiency may be associated with COVID-19 severity, leading the author to conclude that NAC may be useful both for its prevention and treatment. NAC has a long history of use as a first-aid remedy for acetaminophen poisoning. It neutralizes the toxic effects of the drug by recharging glutathione, thereby preventing liver damage. But the idea that NAC can also be helpful against viral infections is not new. Previous studies 2 , 3 have found it reduces viral replication of certain viruses, including the influenza virus. In one such study, 4 the number needed to treat (NNT) was 0.5, which means for every two people treated with NAC, one will be protected against symptomatic infl