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Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare

1021 - The Surprising Gut + Energy Benefits of NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)

Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare

Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.6 โ€ข 804 Ratings

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 31 May 2026

โฑ๏ธ 36 minutes

๐Ÿงพ๏ธ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Ruscio breaks down the surprising gut and systemic benefits of NAC (N-acetylcysteine), including how it may help break down biofilms, support SIBO and H. pylori treatment, improve gut lining repair, boost nutrient absorption, and support glutathione, mitochondria, and brain health. You'll also learn when sustained-release NAC may be useful, how to dose NAC properly, and what side effects or cautions to keep in mind.

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โœ… Start healing with us! Learn more about our virtual clinic:ย ย https://drruscio.com/virtual-clinic/

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๐Ÿ’Š Featured Products:

Biota Dissolve: https://store.drruscio.com/products/biota-dissolve

Jarrow Formulas N-A-C Sustain 600 mg: https://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Sustain-Supports-Function/dp/B0013OVVK0/

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๐Ÿ‘‡ Watch more videos like this ๐Ÿ‘‡ย 

โžก๏ธ Cure SIBO FASTER (New Research):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8MsOY5rgAU

โžก๏ธ 5 Reasons You Need Glutathione & How To Boost It:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k7YT70MnA4

โžก๏ธ 8 Ways to Beat Brain Fog & Boost Your Cognition:ย 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk_ICGk0RwQ

โžก๏ธ Butyrate โ€“ The SIBO Treatment Nobody Talks About:ย 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B4l1yOn9UA

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Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@DrRuscioDC?sub_confirmation=1

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And if you have any questions or topics you would like covered in the future, let me know in the comments!

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๐Ÿ‘‡ Read these next ๐Ÿ‘‡

โžก๏ธ SIBO Biofilm Explained: Symptoms, Causes, and a Treatment Protocol:

https://drruscio.com/sibo-biofilm/

โžก๏ธ What are Biofilms?: https://drruscio.com/biofilms/

โžก๏ธ The Best Glutathione Foods (and When to Supplement):

https://drruscio.com/glutathione-foods/

โžก๏ธ 8 Best Microbiome Supplements for a Happier, Healthier Gut:

https://drruscio.com/best-microbiome-supplements/

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๐Ÿ“Œ Timestamps

00:00 What is NAC?

01:47 H. pylori

04:50 SIBO & biofilms

11:00 Gut lining & nutrient absorption

15:22 IBD

18:18 Systemic benefits

24:16 Gut health protocol

26:14 Systemic protocol

27:29 Side effects

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Supplementary endoscopy video reproduced from: Baumgartner M, Lang M, Holley H, et al. Mucosal Biofilms Are an Endoscopic Feature of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis. Gastroenterology (2021). Available on PubMed Central. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.ย 

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8527885/ย 

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ย 

Changes: trimmed

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๐ŸŽง Audio Episode & Featured Studiesย 

๐Ÿ“‰ N-acetylcysteine and intestinal health: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25553484/

๐Ÿ“‰ Biofilm demolition and antibiotic treatment to eradicate resistant Helicobacter pylori:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20478402/

๐Ÿ“‰ N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30746681/

๐Ÿ“‰ N-acetylcysteine as powerful molecule to destroy bacterial biofilms:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25339490/

๐Ÿ“‰ Mucosal Biofilms Are an Endoscopic Feature of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146566/

๐Ÿ“‰ Low dose rifaximin combined with N-acetylcysteine is superior to rifaximin alone in a rat model of IBS-D:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39103611/

๐Ÿ“‰ Biofilm Disruption Enhances Antimicrobial Therapy for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41394228/

๐Ÿ“‰ Effect of N-acetylcysteine on remission maintenance in patients with ulcerative colitis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33067169/

๐Ÿ“‰ Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33783984/

๐Ÿ“‰ N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation Elevates Human Brain Glutathione In Vivo: https://cds.ismrm.org/protected/17MProceedings/PDFfiles/4553.html?utm_

๐Ÿ“‰ Treatment effects of N-acetyl cysteine on resting-state functional MRI and cognitive performance in patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38299014/

๐Ÿ“‰ Clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry and neurology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25957927/

๐Ÿ“‰ Influence of N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation on Physical Performance and Laboratory Biomarkers in Adult Males: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37299425/

๐Ÿ“‰ COVID-19 clinical outcomes and N-acetylcysteine (CoViNAC study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40418545/

๐Ÿ“‰ Sinus Irrigation with N-Acetylcysteine after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39125554/

๐Ÿ“‰ The effects of N-acetylcysteine supplement on metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37841396/

๐Ÿ“‰ The role of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) orally daily on the sperm parameters and serum hormones in idiopathic infertile men: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33405232/

๐Ÿ“‰ Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Properties of N-Acetylcysteine:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39064168/

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DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment.

Music featured in this video: "Modern Technology" by Andrew G, https://audiojungle.net/user/andrew_gย 

*Full transcript available on YouTube by clicking the "Show transcript" button on the bottom right of the video.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to Dr. Rucho Radio, providing practical and science-based solutions to feeling your best.

0:14.8

To stay up to date on the latest topics, as well as all of our prior episodes, make sure to subscribe in your podcast player.

0:22.2

For weekly updates, visit Dr.rucio.com.

0:25.8

Today, let's cover the gut health benefits of NAC and Acidyl Cysteine, which include its

0:30.6

antibacterial action, anti-cebo action, anti-biofilm properties, the ability of NAC to improve nutrient absorption, the ability

0:41.6

of NAC also to improve leaky gut, and to repair the gut lining benefits for inflammatory bowel

0:48.9

disease as well. Well, the next cover systemic benefits, which include increasing glutathione status in the brain,

0:56.6

some very interesting first-time findings there.

1:00.1

Additionally, benefits for fatigue, mitochondrial function, brain health, and immune health.

1:06.4

We'll then close our discussion with how to supplement properly, including protocols for use.

1:12.6

The form does matter for the use case, dosing guidelines, and also safety and side effects.

1:19.9

If you're new here, welcome. I'm Michael Rucho. I'm a doctor in private practice, an adjunct professor,

1:26.8

and a clinical researcher.

1:28.4

I see patients, teach students, and publish research, all in the field of integrative and

1:34.1

functional medicine.

1:35.7

Let's begin our discussion with H. pylori or helicobacter pylori.

1:41.2

This is a bacteria that can infect the lining of the stomach and or the small intestine.

1:49.2

And because of this, it can cause ulcer in the stomach or the small intestine. But additionally,

1:55.4

cancer, nutrient malabsorption, including iron, and potentially fatigue secondary to that malabsorption.

2:03.6

So this is certainly something that if we can use a simple, safe, natural supplement like

2:08.7

NAC, then there's several, there's a subset of the population this may benefit.

2:15.5

Now, mechanistically, N.Sidyl Cysteine or knack is a mucolytic, meaning it breaks

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