The liver, AAS-induced hepatotoxicity, and liver protectants.

[Dan C]

Been using NAC for a while now. Probably 6-8 months. It helps with my acid reflux too

Good to hear! I've been using it for more than a year now I think, and have noticed tremendous benefits in all areas, especially immune system function. I barely ever get sick, even from minor coughs, colds, etc. and if they do come, my body is quick to get rid of the virus/bacteria. Friends and family will get sick with something and be out of it for a week or longer, and if I catch it, I've got minor symptoms for maybe 2 days max.

[OnTheSauce]

Been using NAC for a while now. Probably 6-8 months. It helps with my acid reflux too

[Dan C]

There's been a lot of news lately on supplements that aren't what the manufacturers claim them to be - too little of the active ingredient, etc... Can someone recommend NAC, TUDCA and liver support supplements that are known to be high quality? If I was to believe all the advertising, every supplement is top quality- having trouble determining what is real and what is not.

Thanks

Sorry for the late reply,

I know about the whole media hysteria over the last month or so regarding legal supplements and how they are unregulated, there is no way of knowing how much of an active ingredient is in them, etc. I think it is safe t say that the media and the government is blowing the whole thing way out of proportion. MOST trusted supplement brands are accurately dosed. You do have companies that cheat and engage in dishonest manufacturing practices to cut costs at the expense of the consumer, but if you grab any good trusted brand, you shouldn't have a problem. Usually the trouble items within the supplement world are the fancy-schmancy bodybuilding-centered products that make wild claims and exaggerations about what they can do, the gains they provide, etc. Even protein powder companies have been known to engage in cheap underhanded practices and put filler into their protein powder (or use a lower grade protein powder). I think if you buy something like NAC, you shouldn't have an issue, especially if you can find a bulk supplier that will give you the raw powder at wholesale cost. That way you can even capsulize it yourself, for a fraction of the cost.

[TJM]

Really nice write up. Thanks.

[dgcesq]

There's been a lot of news lately on supplements that aren't what the manufacturers claim them to be - too little of the active ingredient, etc... Can someone recommend NAC, TUDCA and liver support supplements that are known to be high quality? If I was to believe all the advertising, every supplement is top quality- having trouble determining what is real and what is not.

Thanks

[blergs]

Great post!

[Dan C]

MAJOR UPDATE:

I just updated the article to expand on NAC as a liver protectant, its benefits, and how to use it. Also included some great additional info on NAC's other benefits in the human body and in the treatment of other diseases and disorders. Check it out.

[Dan C]

Dan, what is your opinion on general, daily liver support when comparing milk thistle vs. the Liv52 product? Would one be preferred or would there be a synergistic relationship between the two? Thanks!

Liv 52 would be the better year-round liver support choice. Milk thistle is exactly that: milk thistle (silymarin/silybin). It's a singular product. Liv 52 contains many different antioxidants and products for all-round liver support, which is why I would recommend that over milk thistle. Milk thistle exhibits very poor bioavailability to begin with, as mentioned here in the original post I made.

[OdinsOtherSon]

Dan, what is your opinion on general, daily liver support when comparing milk thistle vs. the Liv52 product? Would one be preferred or would there be a synergistic relationship between the two? Thanks!

[Mini-G]

Milkthistle

[Dan C]

Great detail on NAC, thanks! As I said, my knowledge on NAC is limited but I hope to soon make that a thing of the past.

I'm curious to see what would increased NAC's bioavailability. Perhaps chelating it to something, much like how it is done with magnesium?

[JimiThing]

I will have to look into NAC a little further. My knowledge is limited on NAC, but I am well aware that it is a very good liver support compound, perhaps the second best next to TUDCA/UDCA. I did provide one reference in my post that demonstrated its ability to help the liver recover from acute hepatotoxicity. I'd like to ideally expand on NAC as well in a future update of this liver post. Off the top of my head, though, from what I have heard, the majority of NAC on the market exhibits poor bioavailability. I suppose if one could find an NAC supplement that has a good delivery system, it would be much better. Again, these are things to look into when updating this post to expand on milk thistle and NAC.

Looking forward to the updates. I think NAC has a place for us now more than ever. Its chelation properties are of interest not only due to heavy metals in fish but also with the large increase in ugl products and the concerns over heavy metal presence in the powders used to manufacture. Also its role as a reversing agent in tylenol induced hepatoxicity offers some info that demonstrates its liver specific benefits. Orally it has only about 4-10% bioavailability however the reason is it is metabolized quickly into other compounds which in and of themselves appear to have beneficial effects as well. At any rate very nice write up Dan- looking forward to your additions!.

[Dan C]

That would be great. Have you considered maybe including NAC ? Or maybe I should first ask what your thought are on NAC for this purpose. Obviously the increased bile flow from udca directly addresses what is your primary concern; cholestasis (i agree btw)

I will have to look into NAC a little further. My knowledge is limited on NAC, but I am well aware that it is a very good liver support compound, perhaps the second best next to TUDCA/UDCA. I did provide one reference in my post that demonstrated its ability to help the liver recover from acute hepatotoxicity. I'd like to ideally expand on NAC as well in a future update of this liver post. Off the top of my head, though, from what I have heard, the majority of NAC on the market exhibits poor bioavailability. I suppose if one could find an NAC supplement that has a good delivery system, it would be much better. Again, these are things to look into when updating this post to expand on milk thistle and NAC.

[JimiThing]

Thanks!

I may expand this write-up later on to include some references to in-depth research on milk thistle, and expand on what it is and is not useful for. I wanted to focus on TUDCA/UDCA here because we are most concerned with the liver and how it relates to oral AAS use, and what is best used to combat AAS-induced cholestasis.

That would be great. Have you considered maybe including NAC ? Or maybe I should first ask what your thought are on NAC for this purpose. Obviously the increased bile flow from udca directly addresses what is your primary concern; cholestasis (i agree btw)

[BEAR]

Bravo Dan.........excellent read....!!!