Glutathione

Katiejane

   Hi Ladies!     Have any of you heard of this antioxidant------Glutathione???  I'm looking for pros and cons.  In an article I read they stated there were questions on it's use in cancer pts. something to the effect that it worked so well in our bodies that it also made pre cancerous and cancer cells healthier instead helping to delete them.   Thanks!    Katiejane

FloridaLady

Reduced L-glutathione, most commonly called glutathione or GSH, is the most powerful naturally occurring antioxidant in all human cells.  We have developed this site to deliver information about this powerful antioxidant to consumers that are considering Glutathione.

It is a tripeptide composed of the amino acids glutamic acid, 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.

The highest concentration of glutathione is found in the liver, making it critically important in the detoxification and elimination of free radicals. Accumulation of these dangerous compounds can result in oxidative stress, which occurs when the generation of free radicals in the body exceeds the body's ability to neutralize and eliminate them. Free radicals are highly reactive compounds created in the body during normal metabolic functions; they can also enter the body through the environment.

Metabolically, glutathione has many functions. For example, glutathione plays a substantial role in the functioning of the body's immune system. Its antioxidant property makes it vital to white blood cells (lymphocytes)-as it allows them to reach their full potential during the oxygen-requiring activity of the body's immune response. 

FloridaLady

Glutathione Benefits

Immune System
Immune Depressed individuals have lower GSH levels when fighting disease. Lymphocytes, cells vital for your immune response, depend on GSH for their proper function and replication. Immunology 61: 503-508 1987. Cellular depletion of Glutathione has been implicated as a causative, or contributory factor in many pathologies including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cataracts, arteriosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, malnutrition, aging, AIDS and cancer (Bounous et al., 1991). In addition, Glutathione is essential in supporting the immune system, including natural killer cells (Droege et al., 1997) and in the maintenance of T-lymphocytes (Gutman, 1998).

Cancer
GSH plays a role in eliminating many carcinogens as well as maintaining immune function towards providing stronger anti-tumor defenses. Cancer Letters 57: 91-94 1991

Aging Process
It is known that as we age, there is a precipitous drop in GSH levels. Lower Glutathione levels are implicated in many diseases associated with aging, including Cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, arteriosclerosis and others. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 47: 1021-28 1994

Athletes
Strong muscular activity generates oxyradicals leading to muscle fatigue and poorer performance. GSH neutralizes these radicals. Whey proteins promote muscular development. Sports Medicine 21; 213 - 238, 1996. Recent research indicates that propensities toward many degenerative diseases and aging itself are related to the capacity of the cell to robustly recover from oxidative insult. The capacity of a cell to recover from such insult can be determined by measuring the intracellular stores of Glutathione. (Noelle et al., 1981)

Antioxidant Functions
Antioxidants are well documented to play vital roles in health maintenance and disease prevention. GSH is our cell's own major antioxidant. Why not use what is natural? Biochemical Pharmacology 47:2113-2123 1994

Neurological Disease
Low GSH has been demonstrated in nuerodegenerative diseases such as MS (Multiple Sclerosis), ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, among others. The Lancel 344: 796-798 1994

Toxins, Pollution, Radiation
GSH detoxifies many pollutants, carcinogens and poisons, including many in fuel exhaust and cigarette smoke. It retards damage from radiation such as seen with loss of the ozone. Annual Review of Biochemistry 52 : 711-780 1983. The liver is the main detoxification organ of the body. In the liver we find very high concentrations of GSH, as it is a major factor in numerous biochemical detoxification pathways. Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients with compromised liver function due to alcohol abuse have significant reduction of GSH in the liver. (Lamestro, 1995)

AIDS
Low Glutathione levels with poor survival in AIDS patients. Much literature has been written demonstrating the role of enhancing GSH levels in AIDS. Proc. National Acad. Science USA 94: 2967-72 1997

FloridaLady

Katiejane,

Your right about this supplement.  I do take it for help protect me from more neuropathy damage but now I see I need to take it for many reasons. I look the info about detox of the liver best!

Flalady

Katiejane

   I guess my biggest question with this supplement IS WOULD  CANCER SUVIVOR'S BE TAKING A RISK  OF RECURRENCE BY TAKING GLUTATHIONE????

anondenet

Yes, glutathione is awesome. But you used to have to take glutathine by injection for it to work. Now www.livonlabs.com sells a liposomal variety that is very potent.

It comes in little packets because it can't be exposed to air. One little packet is the equivalent of a $150 glutathione IV at the doctor's office. Almost nobody knows about this yet. I got a free sample carton and I'm hooked. Their vitamin liposomal C is great too.

A year from now everybody will know about it.

cp418

Very interesting - thanks for the information and the link. I am going to consider adding this as a supplement instead of daily 2g of Vitamin C.  Jeeze....I swallow so many supplements everyday........

Michaela3

Yes, glutathione PRECURSORS in the body make cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation, but make healthier cells more resistant. It has been proven to help patients with cancer, AIDS, MS, and the list goes on. Of course, we shouldn't take glutathione directly because it is best synthesized in our bodies, therefore a supplement that provides the precursors or building blocks to glutathione are ideal. There is a supplement called Immunocal that is wonderful. It is a bonded cysteine that helps your body to produce more glutathione. In a perfect world, with the perfect body and diet, we would produce enough. However, that is not the case. Research for yourself... Google glutahione and breast cancer, VERY interesting!!!!

Questions: yourhealth.immunocal@gmail.com

www.immunocal.com/michaelad

luckofthedraw

Interesting topic!  I was reading a looooong eBook yesterday that mentioned gluthione's anti-oxidant properties, and the need to get it buffered so that it can get to the liver, and not be destroyed by the hydrochloric acid in the stomach.  Thanks for the suggestion for LivOn Labs.  I've taken their Vitamin C before (yuck!), but did not realize that they now have gluthione. 

Lili46

I have been seeing an integrative doctor since I was diagnosed with BC. He explained glutathione to me and the role it plays in our bodies, particularly our immune system. He has me taking alpha lipoic acid and NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) in order to boost my my glutathione level. Alpha lipoic acid helps in the formation of glutathione by the body and NAC helps conserve the body's store of glutathione.

CareForYou

It's important to keep in mind that boosting glutathione while on a platin-based chemo agent will diminish it's effectiveness, as GSH will detoxify the platin part immediately when it hits the cell.  Dr. Robert Keller, the world-renowned glutathione scientist and researcher, formulated what is currently the most effective glutathione accelerator available (see www.WinWinHealth.com), and we always advise anyone who is in cancer treatment to consult their doctor for what is appropriate with their treatment protocol.