GLUTATHIONE IN OUR BODIES / WHAT DOES IT DO?

This article will demonstrate to you why Glutathione is so
important to your health and well-being.
Glutathione (pronounced 'gloota-thigh-own') is the body's essential health
ABC's - Antioxidant, Blood Booster and Cell Detoxifier.
It is a tripeptide composed of glutamic, cysteine and glycine. Glutathione is found in
all cells in the body, including the bile, the epithelial lining fluid of the lungs, and - at
much smaller concentrations - in the blood.
Glutathione is the smallest intracellular non-protein thiol (molecule containing an
S_H or sulfhydryl group) molecule in the cells. This characteristic emphasizes its
potent antioxidant action and supports a multifaceted thiol exchange system, which
regulates cell activity.
This small protein, produced naturally in the body, maintains these three crucial
protective functions.
In fact, your life depends on glutathione. Without it, your cells would disintegrate
from unrestrained oxidation, your body would have little resistance to metabolic
acids, and your liver would shrivel up from the eventual accumulation of acidic
toxins.
Glutathione is not yet a household word. Even some medical and holistic doctors
who have heard the term may still have only a vague idea of what it is. However,
everyone will soon be talking about this critical non-nutritive substance.
There was a time when only scientists had heard of cholesterol and vitamins, but
today, everyone knows about them. Now the magnificence of glutathione is
becoming known.
In the last five years, over 25,000 medical articles about this substance have been
published, and the scientific understanding of glutathione is gradually becoming
common knowledge.
Each and every cell in the body is responsible for its own supply of glutathione and
must have the necessary raw materials in order to produce it.
Glutathione is always in great demand and is rapidly consumed when we
experience any sort of emotional or physical stress, fatigue and even
moderate exercise.
Some well-known causes of glutathione depletion are as follows:
1) Acidic lifestyle and diet
2) Air and Water pollution
3) Prescription and recreational drugs
4) Ultraviolet and Radiation from cells phones, computers, electrical cars,
power lines, hair dryers, etc.
5) Emotional and physical stress
6) Injury, trauma or burns
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7) Heavy metals
8) Cigarette smoke
9) Household chemicals
10) Acetaminophen poisoning
11) Exhaust from motor vehicles
12) Septic shock
All of these above factors lead to a build up of acidic toxins that cause the loss of
glutathione as a non-nutritive buffer leading to cellular aging, disease and finally
death.
Why is Glutathione Essential to Health?
Glutathione's three major roles in the body are summarized by the letters A-B-C.
- Anti-oxidant
- Blood Booster
- Cell Detoxifier
These are the three critical processes driven by glutathione.
The Master Antioxidant
Over the past thirty years, researchers have explored the role of antioxidants in good
health as well as the treatment and prevention of diseases involving oxidation or
fermentation by metabolic acids.
Well known and widely used antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium
neutralize acid. They occur naturally in nature, but not in the body. They must be
introduced as part of a balanced diet.
Given the critical role of antioxidants in good health, it is not surprising that the body
itself manufactures its own natural antioxidants.
The most important of these is glutathione. Because all other antioxidants depend
upon the presence of glutathione to function properly, scientists call it 'the master
antioxidant.'
Glutathione binds to toxins, forming a water-soluble complex - which is ultimately
excreted in the urine or bile as waste.
Food for the Blood
Elevated glutathione levels enable the body to produce more white blood cells.
White blood cells are the body's garbage collectors and are the most important cells
for maintaining sterility of the body fluids.
Glutathione plays a central role in the proper function of the white blood cells. Dr.
Bustavo Bounous, a leading glutathione expert, says, 'The limiting factor in the
proper activity of our lymphocytes (the white blood cells) is the availability of
glutathione.' In other words, healthy growth and activity of the white blood cells
depends upon glutathione's availability. Put simply, glutathione is 'food' for the
white blood cells.
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Cellular Detoxifier
Whether we know it or not, we are continually inhaling and ingesting natural and
synthetic acidic toxins. They are unavoidable in these modern times both in our
polluted cities and our poorly engineered food supplies. When the body has the
health and the nourishment it needs, it works tirelessly to eliminate acidic toxins and
to protect itself. But, increasing levels of environmental pollution are depleting the
body's store of glutathione more and more rapidly.
Our main organ of detoxification of acidic waste products is the lymphatic
system and the liver. This is the body's most concentrated source of glutathione.
Studies show that low glutathione levels lead to poor lymphatic and liver function,
causing more and more acidic toxins to circulate through the body and resulting in
damage to individual cells and organs.
Medical doctors today routinely use glutathione- promoting drugs to detoxify victims
of certain types of drug overdose.
Glutathione in Natural Medicine
Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have long advocated
the use of milk thistle for liver problems. It turns out that this herb works by
modestly elevating glutathione levels. The mineral selenium also produces subtle
elevations in glutathione by becoming integrated into the glutathione peroxidase.
Glutathione in Traditional Medicine
Emergency medical doctors, toxicologists and lung and liver specialists are well
acquainted with glutathione's therapeutic uses. American physicians seeking ways to
raise a patient's glutathione levels can open the standard Physician's Desk Reference
(PDR) and find two options - the pharmaceutical drugs sold under the names
Parlodex and Mucomyst, and the natural dietary supplement found in natural foods
stores derived from whey protein isolate.
Drugs That Raise Glutathione Levels
Pharmaceutical drugs like Procysteine, OTC, OTX, Glutathione monoesters and
Glutathione diesters have been used to raise glutathione levels. However, they all
produce side effects and are unsuitable for long term use.
This pharmaceutical non-nutritive chemical is used to break up mucus in lung
diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and asthma. It remains the
standard treatment for acetaminophen overdose.
Glutathione in Health and Disease
It is believed that glutathione has an important role to play in the prevention and
treatment of disease. It may in the future be considered as important to health as an
alkaline diet, exercise and alkaline lifestyle. Clinical tests show that raised
glutathione levels may address some of the eight major health issues of our
time:
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1) Cardiovascular
- Prevents heart disease - Shimizu H, Kiyohara Y, Kitazono T, Kubo M,
Ibayashi S, Fufishima M, Lida M.
Relationship Between Plasma Glutathione Levels and Cardiovascular Disease in
a Defined Population: The Hisyama Study. Stroke. 2004 Sep; 35(9):2072-7.
- Prevents stroke - Paterson PG, Juurlink BH.
Nutritional Regulation of Glutathione in Stroke.
Neurtox Res. 1999 Dec; 1(2): 99-112.
- Prevents atherosclerosis - Coppola L, Grassia A, Giunta R. Glutathione
Improves Hemostatic and Hemorrheological Parameters in Atherosclerotic
Subject. Drugs Exp. Clin Res 1992
18:493-98
- Reverses artherosclerosis
- Prevents reperfusion injury
2) Cancer
Cancer causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been found to alter levels of
glutathione compounds in experiments, which may alter the body's resistance to
certain types of cancer.
Glutathione deficiencies have been linked to many forms of cancer.
- Prevents cancerous tissue
- Suppresses tumor growth
- Eliminates carcinogen - acids
- Retards oxidative stress
- Prevents wasting disease
- Eases side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
3) Pulmonary
Glutathione is the most efficient free radical (acid) scavenger in the airways, and
dozens of studies have confirmed that free radical (acid) damage is a primary player
in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Rahman I, MacNee W. Oxidative Stress
and Regulation of Glutathione in Lung Inflammation.
Eur Respir J. 2000 Sep; 16(3):534-54.
- Breaks up mucus - Rahman I, MacNee W.
Oxidative Stress and Regulation of Glutathione in Lung Inflammation.
Eur Respir J. 2000 Sep; 16(3):534-54
- Cystic fibrosis - Glutathione neutralized harmful oxidants introduced into the lungs
or those released by cells. Exotoxins from bacteria can overload the endobronchial
terrain and feed the fires of acidic inflammation. This staggering burden increases
the oxidative sensitivity of the CF lung, resulting in further injury of lung
parenchyma. Data supports evidence of a decrease in the antioxidant tri-peptide
glutathione (Roum JH, Buhl R, McElvaney NG, et al.
Systemic Deficiency of Glutathione in Systic Fibrosis. J Appl Physiol 1993; 75:19-24).
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- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema - Lamson, David, MD, Grignall, Matthew, ND. The use of
Nebulized Glutathione in the Treatment of Emphysema: A Case Report. Altern
Med Review. 5(5);429-431, 2000 Oct.
- Pulmonary fibrosis - Ishii T, Fujishiro M, Nakajima J, Teramoto S, Ouchi
Y, Matsuse T. Depletion of Glutathion S-Transferase P1 Induces Apoptosis in
Huamn Lung Fibroblasts. Exp Lung Res. 29(7);523-36, 2003 Oct-Nov.
4) Aging
Glutathione is critically important to our brain as it is one of the most important brain
antioxidants. Glutathione helps preserve brain tissue by preventing damage from
free radicals (acids).
In addition to quenching dangerous acids, glutathione also acts to recycle vitamin E
which also has the ability to reduce acidity in the brain.
(Perlmutter D., BrainRecovery.com July 2004, 5th ed:13)
- Autism - Medical literature documents that an out-fection can lead to a lowering of
glutathione which participates in detoxification, interacts with metallothioneins, and
supports many crucial aspects of immunity. A link between glutathione and autism
regression may derive from the fact that transient or chronic intestinal problems can
impair an infant's or toddler's nutritional status, thereby minimizing the levels of
amino-acids required for the production of glutathione (McCandless, J. Children With
Starving Brains. 2003, 2nd ed; 252)
- Parkinson's Disease - Glutathione helps to preserve brain tissue by preventing
damage from free radicals (acids) and destructive chemicals formed by the normal
processes of metabolism, toxic elements in the environment, and as a normal
response of the body to challenges by acidic agents or other stresses. With the
understanding that glutathione is important for brain protection and that this
protection many be lacking in the brains of Parkinson's clients due to glutathione
deficiency, it can be seen as very beneficial.
(Di Monte DA, Cahn P, Sandy MS. Glutathione in Parkinson's Disease: A Link
Between Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage? An Neurol. 32 Suppl; S111-
115, 1992.)
- Alzheimer's Dis-ease - Woltjer, R.L., Hgheim W., Maezawa I., Vaisar T,
Montine K.S., Montine T.J., Role of Glutathione in Intracellular
Amyloid-Alpha Recursor Protein/Carboxy- Terminal Fragment Aggregation and
Associated Cytotoxicity. J Neurochem. 2005 May; 93 (4): 1047-56.
- Huntington's DisEase - Choo Y.S., Mao Z, Johnson GV, Lesort M. Increased
Glutathione Levels In Cortical Striatal Mitochondria of the
R6/2 Huntington's Disease Mouse Model.
Neuroscience Letter. 2005 Sep 23; 386(1): 63-8.
- Multiple Sclerosis - Calabrese V, Scapaginini G, Ravagna A, Bella R,
Butterfield DA, Calvani M, Pennisi G, Giuffrida Stella AM. Disruption of
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Thiol Homeostasis and Nitrostative Stress in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of
Patients with Active Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence for a Protective Role of
Acetylcarnitine. 2003 Sep; 28(9):
1321-8. Mann CL, Davies MB, Aldersea J,
Fryer AA, Jones PK, Ko Ko C, Young C,
Strange RC, Hawkins CP. Glutathione
S-Transferase Polymorphisms in MS:
Their Relationship to Disability. Neurology.
2000 Feb 8;54(3):542-7.
- ALS - Tohgi H, Abe T, Yamazaki K, Murata T, Ishizake E, Isobe C. Increase
in Oxidized Products and Reduction in Oxidized Glutathione in Cerborospinal
Fluid From Patients with Sporadic Form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Neurosci Lett. 1999 Feb 5; 260(3):204-6.
- Cataract formation
- Macular degeneration
- Cancers of aging
- Prostate problems
- Osteoarthritis - Hammarqvist F, Luo JL, cotgreave IA, Andersson K, Wernerman J.
Skeletal Muscle Glutathione is Depleted In Critically Ill Patients. Crit Care Med.
25(1):78-84 1997 Jan.
5) Digestive
- Inflammatory bowel dis-ease
- Hepatitis
- Malnutrition
- Pancratititis
- Peptic ulcer
6) Toxicology
- Detoxifies certain drug overdoses - Acetaminophen has been shown to reduce
glutathione production, thus paving the way for enhanced brain destruction
by metabolic acids. (Perlmutter D. July 2004, 5th ed:108)
- Detoxifies substances in cigarette smoke and auto exhaust - Rahman I, MacNee W.
Lung Glutathione and Oxidative Stress:
Implications In Cigarette Smoke-Induced Airway Disease. Am J Physiol. 277(6
Pt 1);1067-88,
1999 Dec.
- Detoxifies pollutants including heavy metals and pesticides – Elevated glutathione
levels have been shown to protect tissue form lipid peroxidation created by exposure
to certain metals. Consider infusions of glutathione to relieve the body burden of
both neurotoxins and metal toxicity, including mercury. (Foster, JS.
Kane PC, Speight N. The Detoxx Book. 2002;90)
- Prevents hearing loss from noise pollution
- Detoxifies many well-known carcinogens
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7) Immunology
- Anti-viral for AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, etc. - Low glutathione levels in HIV clients
may contribute to their immune deficiency since glutathione plays an important role
in the function of lymphocytes. Some lymphocytes require adequate levels of
glutathione in order to function normally, and HIV induces oxidative stress that
depletes the cells of glutathione.
Townsend DM, Tew KD, Tapero H.
The Importance of Glutathione in Human
Disease. Biomed Pharmacother. 2003
May-June;57(3-4):145-55. Droge W, Holm E.
Role of Cysteine and Glutathione in HIV
Infection and other Diseases Associated with Muscle Wasting and
Immunological Dysfunction.
FASEB J, 11(13):1077-89 1997 Nov.
- Lyme Dis-Ease - Lyme dis-ease is a seriously complex multi-system acidic
inflammatory condition that is triggered by bacterial exotoxins. Glutathione helps to
remove exotoxic and/or mycotoxic acids by forming a soluble compound with them,
which can then be excreted through the urine or gut. (Can Glutathione Help Lyme
Disease Suffers?
Excerpt from: The Glutathione Report: Optimal Health with the Master Antioxidant,
Issue 4, Volume 1, May 2004).
- Natural antibiotic
- Chronic fatigue syndrome - An article in the journal of Medical Hypothesis
proposed that glutathione, an antioxidant essential for lymphocyte function,
may be depleted in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. Glutathione is needed
for both the immune system and for aerobic muscular contraction. The
authors proposed that glutathione depletion by an activated immune system
also causes the muscular fatigue and myalgia associated with Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome (Bounous et al. 1999).
8) Metabolic
- Athletic enhancement
- Decreases recovery time from physical stress
- Supports hemoglobin in kidney failure
- Diabetes - The blood and tissues of diabetics are marked by critically low
glutathione levels. Glutathione depletion may have adverse consequences in diabetic
clients independent of glycemic control, and it may weaken the defense against
oxidative stress.
De Mattia G, Bravi MC, Laurenti O, Cassone-Faldetta M, Armiento A, Ferri C,
Falsano F. Influence of Reduced Glutathione Infusion on Glucose Metabolism in
Patients with Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Metabolism.
1998 Aug;47(8):433-8.
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Glutathione provides the body with tools to fight off these threats naturally. Healthy
people also benefit from elevated glutathione levels through an enhanced ability to
fight off acidic toxins, dis-ease, pre-cancerous cells and the aging process itself.
Diminished glutathione levels are a symptom of aging and are particularly evident in
such alimentsas Parkinson's dis-ease and Alzheimer's dis-ease.
Glutathione is also important to physically active people. Many world-class
athletes are discovering that well-maintained glutathione levels gives them the edge
over their competitors, bringing greater strength and endurance,decreased recovery
time from injury, less muscle pain and fatigue, and muscle-promoting activity.
Putting It All Together
1) Medical science is still ascertaining all the critical roles played by glutathione in
disease resistance and general good health. Clinical evidence links low glutathione
levels to the most common illnesses of our time as well as newly emerging diseases.
2) As an essential aid to health, glutathione works as the master antioxidant in our
body, optimizes the white blood cells and detoxifies a long list of pollutants and
carcinogens or acids. The best way to raise glutathione levels is by eating foods that
are high in glutathione such as avocados.
3) Pharmaceutical medicine has created drugs that do this very effectively. They
have their uses in critical situations. But they also have side effects and repeated
use is clearly inadvisable.
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References:
Aging
It is well known that aging is accompanied by a precipitous fall in
glutathione levels. Lower glutathione levels are implicated in many
diseases associated with aging including cataracts, Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's atherosclerosis and others.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 47:1021-26, 1994.
Antioxidant Functions
Antioxidants are well documented and known to play vital roles in health
maintenance and dis-ease prevention. Glutathione is your cell's own major
antioxidant. Maintaining elevated glutathione levels aids the body's
natural antioxidant function.
Biochemical Pharmacology 47: 2114-2123, 1994.
Neurological Dis-Ease
Low glutathione levels have been associated with neuro-degenerative
diseases such as MS (Multiple Sclerosis), ALS (Lou Gehrig's Dis-ease),
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The Lancet 344: 796-798, 1994.
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Cancer
Glutathione plays a role in eliminating many carcinogens/acids and also maintains
and optimizes white blood cell function while providing stronger anti-acidic/antitumor
defenses.
Cancer Letters 57: 91-94, 1991.
Athletic Performance
Raised glutathione levels help increase strength and endurance. Those interested in
physical fitness can benefit from a definite athletic edge.
Journal of Applied Physiology 87: 1381-1385, 1999.
Toxins, Pollution and Radiation
Glutathione detoxifies a variety of pollutants, carcinogens and poisons including
many found in fuel exhaust and cigarette smoke. It also retards damage from
radiation exposure due to the eroding ozone layer.
Annual Reviews of Biochemistry 52: 711-760, 1983
AIDS
Glutathione levels correspond to poor survival of AIDS patients. Much documentation
demonstrates the role of enhanced glutathione levels in AIDS.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 94: 1967-72, 1997.
Heart Dis-Ease, Stroke and Cholesterol
Raised glutathione levels fight the oxidation of fats circulating in the bloodstream
including cholesterol, retarding the process of plaque formation in the arteries
leading to most heart attacks and strokes.
Nutrition Reviews 54: 1-30, 1996.
Diabetes
Diabetics are more prone to 'out-fections' and circulatory problems leading
to heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Glutathione protects
against the complications of diabetes.
Clinical Science 91:575-582, 1996
Lung Disease
Doctors have used glutathione-promoting drugs to treat many lung diseases
including asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. New and potentially
therapeutic roles can be found for cigarette smoke damage, pulmonary
fibrosis and other illnesses.
American Journal of Medical Science 307:119-127, 1994
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Digestive Disorders
Glutathione protects the body from inflammation of gastritis, stomach ulcers,
pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel dis-ease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
dis-ease.
Gut 42: 485-492, 1998
Hepatitis
The liver is a major storehouse for glutathione. Glutathione is impaired in alcohol
hepatitis as well as in viral (acidic) hepatitis including hepatitis A, B, and C. Raisied
glutathione levels help restore liver function.
American Journal of gastroenterology 91: 2569-2573, 1996
Kidney Dis-Ease
Those with kidney failure or on dialysis suffer from high levels of oxidative (acidic)
stress and decreased glutathione levels. Raised glutathione levels help prevent
anemia.
Nephron 61: 404-408, 1992
Pregnancy, Lactation and Childbirth
Glutathione's role in fetal and placental development is critical. It also acts in the
placenta to detoxify pollutants before they can reach the developing child. Many
complications of pregnancy have been linked with poor glutathione levels.
Early Human Development 37: 167-174, 1994
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