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Thousands of articles about N-acetylcysteine, or NAC, have been
published in medical journals, some of them reporting on its effects
in cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions, cancer,
pulmonary diseases, and tissue rejection.
And now, this very useful
supplement is showing preliminary and hopeful signs of becoming a
treatment for gambling addictions, as well as other types of
addictive behaviour.
Researchers at the University of
Minnesota enrolled 27 pathological gamblers (12 women) in an 8-week
trial of NAC. The first part of the study was an open trial where
subjects each consumed daily doses of NAC. In this part of the
study, 16 of 27 subjects reported experiencing fewer urges to gamble
(on average 40% less). The effective dose of NAC ranged from 1,100
to 1,700mg per day.
Of those 16 subjects, 13 went on to participate in a double-blind,
randomised, placebo-controlled trial of NAC. Of those subjects given
NAC, 83 percent experienced a reduced compulsion to gamble compared
with only 28 percent of those assigned to a placebo.
The study authors concluded, “The
efficacy of NAC lends support to the hypothesis that pharmacological
manipulation of the glutamate system might target core symptoms of
reward-seeking addictive behaviors such as gambling. Larger, longer,
placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are warranted.”
Earlier studies have suggested that there is a biochemical component
to addiction. The beneficial effects of glutamine, B vitamins,
lithium, and dietary modifications have been shown for people
addicted to alcohol. The field of optimising brain chemistry is in
its infancy. Hopefully future research will continue to focus on
safe, natural, inexpensive and effective nutrients to provide
much-needed help for the millions of people who want to quit, but
haven't yet.
References:
N-acetyl cysteine, a
glumatate-modulating agent, in the treatment of pathological
gambling: a pilot study. Biol Psychiatry, 2007 Sept 15; 62(6):652-7
Health Food Supplement
May Curb Addiction of Pathological Gamblers; Science Daily website
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