Re: Kidneys: NAC and DHEA

Some amazing case studies involving nutrients like NAC, hormones like DHEA, etc. Here are a couple of the cases, the link has more.

LE Magazine May 2003

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2003/may2003_report_pet_02.html



Life Extension Animals Case Studies
By Terri Mitchell

It was five long days until the results came back. By then, Jack was barely hanging on. The report showed that Jack's kidneys were inflammed for no apparent reason. Little grains created by the immune system were filling up his kidneys, blocking the delicate filtering system. Something was needed that could counteract the inflammatory process. The vet decided that Jack needed an intensive program starting with N-acetylcysteine (NAC).

NAC is a form of the amino acid, cysteine, with multiple kidney-protective actions. The research on what NAC can do for the kidney (and the liver) is scientifically well-documented. In one recent study, researchers in Italy demonstrated that NAC normalizes creatinine levels in rodents with kidney failure. It reverses inflammation and restores filtration. Similar findings are reported by French researchers when NAC is given as a pretreatment before experimental kidney damage in rats. Without NAC, there is a 68% reduction in the ability of the kidneys to do their job. With it, the loss of kidney function is only 29%. A third study confirms that an infusion of NAC before and after experimental kidney damage doubles the kidney filtration rate. NAC is strong medicine for the kidneys. It has no adverse side effects, even when small animals like cats are given a human dose.


The dog with arthritis

Gigi was limping when caretakers, Bill and Charlene Baird, took her to the vet. She was also losing her hair. After examining the little terrier mix, the vet gave his diagnosis: arthritis. Gigi was only five, but already she was getting the signs of old age. The veterinarian recommended a new diet and some products he was selling, but Bill and Charlene opted to try Life Extension products. Bill was a fan, having been able to throw out half of his heart medications after switching to heart-enhancing supplements from Life Extension. They immediately put Gigi on
Life Extension Dog Mix (two scoops), MSM (500 mg/day) and glucosamine/chondroitin (900 mg/day).

Within a week, Gigi stopped limping, and Bill no longer had to help her into the car. "She's doing great," said Charlene. "She plays tug-of-war, chases balls, constantly wants to play and runs circles around the rocking chairs." The limping is long-gone, the hair-loss has stopped and Gigi hasn't been back to the vet since.


The veterinarian started Jack on 100 mg of NAC twice a day, plus a new diet of raw beef and chicken and 100 mg of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). DHEA is critical for an important kidney enzyme known as sulfotransferase. People with kidney disease have depleted levels of DHEA. Research shows that DHEA and NAC probably work synergistically, which is why they were given together.

Within 24 hours of receiving NAC and DHEA, Jack began eating like a normal cat. He continued to vomit for several days (a side effect of kidney failure), but two weeks from the date of surgery, his BUN had dropped from 152mg/dl to 45.6mg/dl and he was up and around. At that point, the supplements were cut in half. A month later, Jack's blood tests were normal. That was over a year ago and Jack is still doing great. He is maintained on a high-protein diet along with 50 mg of NAC and 25 mg of DHEA a day.

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