Cysteine is one of the most important micromolecules your body needs for maintaining optimal overall health. This conditionally essential amino acid is not only necessary for protein synthesis, but also for glutathione production. As the master antioxidant, glutathione plays a crucial role in your body's antioxidant defenses and contributes to your overall health and wellness.

N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is an easy-to-absorb, acetylated form of L-cysteine. Because L-cysteine has poor bioavailability and is prone to oxidation in the digestive tract, an acetyl group is usually added to it to address these issues. NAC undergoes deacetylation inside the body to yield cysteine for use in protein and glutathione synthesis. With its twofold effect as an antioxidant and a crucial component of glutathione, NAC can provide antioxidant protection from oxidative damage while supporting the healthy functions of your vital organs.

In this feature article, you will learn the reasons why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuously working to ban nutritional and dietary supplements that work, such as NAC, depriving Americans of effective and inexpensive means of maintaining optimal overall health.