Let\’s start by presenting Cysteine, which is a so-called non-essential amino acid belonging to that category of amino acids that our body can produce by itself, in this case starting from methionine and serine.
Cysteine can be found in most foods with a high protein content such as white meats, dairy products, eggs, oil seeds and some legumes.
An important food supplement and pharmaceutical product is obtained from the N-acetylation of this amino acid: N-Acetyl Cysteine, more commonly abbreviated to NAC. This active ingredient performs countless actions including:
- body-synthesis of antioxidants – together with glutamine and glycine, N-Acetyl-Cysteine is necessary to produce and replenish glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants for our body, given its ability to neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues.
- detoxification processes – it can help prevent the side effects of certain types of drugs and toxins. In the hospital settings, it is given to people with acetaminophen overdose to reduce or prevent liver and kidney damage.
- reducing the symptoms of respiratory conditions – its contribution helps to restore the levels of glutathione in the lungs and reduces inflammatory states in both lung and bronchial tissues. Its supplementation is used in COPD patients to improve symptoms. According to some recent studies, appropriate dosages of NAC contribute to significantly improve lung function and symptoms of people suffering from chronic bronchitis, reducing the severity and frequency of wheezing, coughing and respiratory attacks.
- improving mental health conditions – supplementation of this amino acid helps regulate the levels of glutamate, the most important neurotransmitter in the brain: this can help improve the condition of patients suffering from bipolar disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders and depression, by reducing symptoms and improving general brain functioning skills.
One of the negative and limiting aspects of N-Acetyl-Cysteine is its particularly unpleasant taste and smell typical of sulfur products which make it difficult to take.
IPS, through its Suractives® division, is able to supply N-Acetyl-Cysteine made using MATRIS® technology which guarantees not only high bioavailability but also total coverage of odor and taste, making it easier to administer. Furthermore, with this technology it is possible to reach a higher titer of the active ingredient compared to traditional formulations in microgranules and pellets for oral solids.
Thanks to its granulometric features, NAC MATRIS® spreads quickly and uniformly over the entire surface of the gastrointestinal tract, maximizing its absorption.
NAC MATRIS® is ideal for all formulations in sachets, stick-packs, capsules, bottles with disposable measuring caps and tablets.