NAC seems to have a direct mineral chelating effect, meaning it can bind tightly to certain minerals and aid in their removal from the body. In rodents, decreased tissue accumulation and increased urinary excretion of lead has been observed following NAC supplementation,[1] and in humans, a reduction in serum lead has been found.[2] Standard oral doses of NAC appear to be protective against lead toxicity in humans, possibly related to a reduction in lead accumulation in the body and reducing oxidative stress.
Lead is a heavy mineral that can be toxic to the human body. Exposure to lead causes oxidative stress in the body, which seems to deplete both cellular and enzymatic antioxidants, including glutathione.[3] NAC is thought to alleviate the toxic effects of lead by aiding in its removal from the body while also acting as a building block for the synthesis of new glutathione.[1][4]
In animal studies, NAC has shown protective effects (assessed by biomarkers in serum and histopathological examination) against lead toxicity in the kidneys,[1] the brain,[4][5] and liver tissue.[5] In workers with high levels of occupational lead exposure, oral supplementation of 200–800 mg of N-acetylcysteine daily for 12 weeks reduced blood concentrations of lead and improved markers of oxidative stress.[2]