I have a question about this episode How to Prevent & Treat Colds & Flu and this N-Acetylcysteine Insights What were the key findings of the study on N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) for preventing and treating colds and flus discussed by Andrew Huberman?
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In the episode , discusses significant findings about N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) for preventing and treating colds and flu. A study highlighted within this episode showed that NAC significantly reduced the risk of contracting influenza. Specifically, only 25% of participants who took NAC contracted the virus compared to 79% in the placebo group. This suggests that NAC has a potential preventive effect against influenza by increasing glutathione levels, which contributes to overall health benefits and immune support.
advises that NAC is legally available over the counter in the U.S., although there were past efforts to remove it from availability due to unsupported claims by some supplement companies. He mentions that the typical NAC dosage for preventative purposes is around 1200 mg per day, taken as two doses of 600 mg each. He also shares personal insights about using NAC during an illness, including a modified dosage strategy to avoid sleep disruption from side effects like post-nasal drip 1.
The discussion also touches on other supplements such as zinc and vitamin D, suggesting their role in immune support, while noting that vitamin C may not be as effective based on current data 1.