Free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines can be powerful promoters of the aggressive osteoclastic bone-resorbing activity we often see in osteoporosis. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a very powerful antioxidant that can neutralize these free radicals and limit pro-inflammatory cytokines. Considerable research has demonstrated NAC's ability to limit bone loss via these mechanisms. Now, a new study out of Japan by Yamada et al., demonstrates NAC's capacity to regenerate bone. In experiments using rat cell cultures these researchers observed that "NAC can function as an osteogenesis-enhancing molecule to accelerate bone regeneration by activating differentiation of osteogenic lineages."
There are many scientific reasons why we include NAC (600 mg) in our OsteoStim product. For example, prior studies have demonstrated NAC's ability to restore estrogen-dependent regeneration of a powerful antioxidant enzyme in the body called glutathione peroxidase (GPx). GPx is important for neutralizing the free radials (reactive oxygen species) that activate osteoclasts and increase their destructive resorption of bone. When estrogen levels decline at menopause, so do GPx levels. This accelerates bone loss. NAC helps to restore GPx levels to normal and slow down bone loss. The findings from this Japanese study add additional support for using supplemental NAC to improve bone health.
Yamada, M., et al. 2013. N-acetyl cysteine as an osteogenesis-enhancing molecule for bone regeneration. Biomaterials May 24 [Epub ahead of print].
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