Glutathione -- was: Top 100 AIDS Science Inconsistencies

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" Elaine " <mem121

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Monday, January 13, 2003 11:52 PM

Top 100 AIDS Science Inconsistencies

 

 

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> Top 100 AIDS Science Inconsistencies

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> 81 All AIDS patients have lowered levels of glutathione, the

major

> water soluble intracellular antioxidant (59, 60)

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> (59) FASEB J. 1997, 11:1077-1089

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> (60) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94:1967-1972

 

Number 81 of the list of 100 AIDS Science Inconsistencies

grabbed my attention. Below is a small partial result of some web

searching. URL at top of each section leads to web page which has

hotlinks. Note the info which says glutathione supplementation is

no more effective than taking the basic amino amino acids which

comprise the glutathione molecule (cysteine, glutamic acid, and

glycine) because the molecule must be manufactured within each &

every cell rather than transported to it. Other websites talk about

using glutathione in an IV for Parkenson's disease. So there seems

to be some contraversy over the effectiveness of utilizing

glutathione itself vs its constituent molecules (cysteine, glutamic

acid, and glycine).

 

 

Alobar

 

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http://www.nutritionadvisor.com/glutathione.html

 

The Benefits of Glutathione (GSH)

Information for Physicians Only

 

The Science of Glutathione.

The FDA on Benefits of Glutathione.

Glutathione is a substance, the levels of which in our cells are

predictive of how long we will live. There are very few other factors

which are as predictive of our life expectancy as is our level of

cellular glutathione. Glutathione has been called the " master

antioxidant " , and regulates the actions of lesser antioxidants such

as vitamin C, and vitamin E within the body. " We literally cannot

survive without this antioxidant, " Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. " What

You Should Know about the Super Antioxidant Miracle "

" Without glutathione, other important antioxidants such as vitamins C

and E cannot do their job adequately to protect your body against

disease. " Breakthrough in Cell Defense, Allan Somersall, Ph.D., M.D.,

and Gustavo Bounous, M.D. FRCS©

" No other antioxidant is as important to overall health as

glutathione. It is the regulator and regenerator of immune cells and

the most valuable detoxifying agent in the human body. Low levels are

associated with hepatic dysfunction, immune dysfunction, cardiac

disease, premature aging, and death. " The Immune System Cure, Lorna

R. Vanderhaeghe & Patrick J.D. Bouic, Ph.D.

Glutathione (L-gammaglutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine) is a tri-peptide of

the amino acids cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. Glutathione is

an antioxidant compound found in living animal and plant tissue. It

takes up and gives off hydrogen and is important in cellular

respiration. A deficiency of glutathione can cause hemolysis

(destruction of red blood cells, leading to anemia) and oxidative

stress. Glutathione is essential in intermediary metabolism as a

donor of sulfhydryl groups which are essential for the detoxification

of acetaminophen. [PDR Medical Dictionary. Spraycar. 1999] Selenium

is a structural component of, and a co-factor for the antioxidant

enzyme glutathione peroxidase.

 

Glutathione is the major endogenous antioxidant produced by the cell.

Glutathione participates directly in the neutralization of free

radicals, reactive oxygen compounds, and maintains exogenous

antioxidants such as vitamins C and E in their reduced (active)

forms. In addition, through direct conjugation, glutathione plays a

role in the detoxification of many xenobiotics (foreign compounds)

both organic and inorganic. Glutathione is an essential component of

the human immune response. Proposed mechanisms of immune enhancement

include:

optimizing macrophage functions,

offsetting oxidative damage associated with lymphocyte monoclonal

expansion, and

stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane thereby, reducing apoptosis in

lymphocytes

 

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http://www.immunocal.com/Glutathione.htm

 

The Science of Glutathione

 

By Patricia A.L. Kongshavn, Ph.D

 

Former Professor: Department of Medicine, McGill University,

Montreal, Canada

 

Glutathione is a small molecule found in almost every cell. It cannot

enter most cells directly and therefore must be made inside the cell,

from its three constituent amino acids: glycine, glutamate and

cysteine. The rate at which glutathione can be made depends on the

availability of cysteine, which is relatively scarce in foodstuffs.

Furthermore, the cysteine molecule has a sulfur-containing portion

which gives the whole glutathione molecule its 'biochemical activity'

, i.e. its ability to carry out the following vitally important

functions: Firstly, glutathione is the major antioxidant produced by

the cell, protecting it from 'free radicals' ('oxygen radicals',

'oxyradicals'). These highly reactive substances, if left unchecked,

will damage or destroy key cell components (e.g. membranes, DNA) in

microseconds. Oxyradicals are generated in the many thousand

mitochondria located inside each cell, where nutrients like glucose

are burnt using oxygen to make energy. (Mitochondria can be thought

of as the batteries that provide the power for the cells to operate).

Oxyradicals also come from pollutants, from UV radiation and other

sources. In addition, glutathione recycles other well-known

antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, keeping them in their

active state. Secondly, glutathione is a very important detoxifying

agent, enabling the body to get rid of undesirable toxins and

pollutants. It forms a soluble compound with the toxin that can then

be excreted through the urine or the gut. The liver and kidneys

contain high levels of glutathione as they have the greatest exposure

to toxins. The lungs are also rich in glutathione partly for the same

reason. Many cancer-producing chemicals, heavy metals, drug

metabolites etc. are disposed of in this way. Thirdly, glutathione

plays a crucial role in maintaining a normal balance between

oxidation and anti-oxidation. This, in turn, regulates many of the

cell's vital functions, such as the synthesis and repair of DNA, the

synthesis of proteins and the activation and regulation of enzymes.

Fourthly, glutathione is required in many of the intricate steps

needed to carry out an immune response. For example, it is needed for

the lymphocytes to multiply in order to develop a strong immune

response, and for 'killer' lymphocytes to be able to kill undesirable

cells such as cancer cells or virally infected cells. The importance

of glutathione cannot be overstated. It has multiple roles as

indicated and, indeed, as one examines each system or organ more

closely, the necessity for glutathione becomes increasingly evident.

Glutathione values decline with age and higher values in older people

are seen to correlate with better health, underscoring the importance

of this remarkable substance for maintaining a healthy,

well-functioning body.

 

References:

 

Lomaestro B, Malone M. Glutathione in health and disease:

Pharmacotherapeutic Issues Ann Pharmacother 29: 1263-73,1995

 

Glutathione the undiscovered " natural drug "

 

A recent press release by CBS highlighted the need for a " universal

or all-purpose drug " able to combat any germ or toxic chemical

released by hostile forces. In general, the idea would be to bolster

the defenses we already possess, in particular the immune system, to

fight against infections and cancer. CBS made brief mention of two

substances, cysteine and glutathione, that deserve much greater

attention.

 

Glutathione is a key substance found in every cell in our body, and

may be thought of as a " naturally occurring universal drug " - and one

without adverse side effects! It is the cell's most important

antioxidant, neutralizing " free radicals " that would otherwise damage

or destroy the cells. The body produces free radicals during

metabolism. Under any form of stress, such as chemical toxicity or

bacterial infections, the body generates many more free radicals. If

glutathione is in short supply, these free radicals can overwhelm the

cell. Exposure to radiation from sunlight or other sources also

results in increasing highly reactive free radicals that likewise our

bodies need to neutralize.

 

Glutathione is also the main detoxifying agent in the body. It

converts damaging chemical substances (toxins) into harmless products

that the body eliminates. Such chemicals include cancer-producing

substances, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, smoke and other

pollutants. Thus, glutathione provides important protection against

many environmental hazards. The liver is particularly rich in

glutathione for this purpose.

 

The immune system is our main defense against infection. Once again,

glutathione plays a vital role, enabling the immune system to

function optimally, which it cannot do when glutathione is deficient.

For example, the cells of the immune system (lymphocytes) cannot

multiply as much, cannot produce as many antibodies, and cannot kill

unwanted cells like cancer cells or those infected with a virus.

Glutathione deficiency also adversely affects other systems and

organs such as the lungs, the nervous system, and the intestinal

tract.

 

It is on record that there are many medical disorders associated with

glutathione deficiency. These include AIDS and cancer wasting, some

intestinal disorders, lung diseases, over-trained athletes syndrome

and trauma. Furthermore, as we age, glutathione levels decrease which

no doubt explains, in part, an older person's lowered resistance to

disease.

 

Glutathione is a very small protein made inside the cells from three

amino acids obtained ultimately from our food or supplementation. One

of these amino acids, cysteine, gives the glutathione its antioxidant

and detoxifying properties. This amino acid is relatively rare in

foodstuffs and this can lead to glutathione deficiency, even in

healthy people. For example, one study demonstrated that, by feeding

a cysteine enriched food product, namely Immunocal®, glutathione

values increased by 35.5% in the lymphocytes of normal young adults.

(see reference below)

 

It is well documented that glutathione sold as a dietary supplement

is mostly destroyed during digestion and therefore is of little use.

Cysteine itself is toxic and suffers the same fate unless chemically

modified. Practitioners use N-acetyl cysteine as a supplement, but it

has certain unpleasant side effects, even in moderate doses. Thus,

the best source for cysteine supplementation is from cysteine-rich

foodstuffs. It is normally present in food as the stable form,

cystine (2 molecules of cysteine linked together). Our bodies digest,

absorb, and carry cystine to the cells where they convert it into

cysteine. Since heat or mechanical stress etc., easily split cystine

into cysteine (where digestion destroys it), raw unprocessed foods or

special food supplements high in bioactive cysteine (cystine) provide

the best source of this vital amino acid.

 

Sixty years ago, Florey and Fleming revolutionized the medical

treatment of infection with the discovery of antibiotics that act

against a broad range of bacteria. Glutathione, a " natural drug " ,

perhaps in the same way could provide a significant contribution

towards defending ourselves against the growing number of diverse

biological and chemical hazards facing our society today.

 

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http://www.prozactruth.com/gluta.htm

 

Glutathione

 

What is Glutathione

Glutathione is a small molecule made up of three amino acids, which

exists in almost every cell of the body. However, Glutathione, must

be generated within the cell from its precursors before it can work

effectively in the body.

 

The presence of glutathione is required to maintain the normal

function of the immune system. It is known to play a critical role in

the multiplication of lymphocytes (the cells that mediate specific

immunity) which occurs in the development of an effective immune

response.

 

Furthermore, the cells of the immune system produce many oxiradicals

as a result of their normal functioning, resulting in a need for

higher concentrations of antioxidants than most cells. Glutathione

plays a crucial role in fulfilling this requirement.

 

Glutathione as a Detoxicant

Supplemental detoxicants become necessary as our environment becomes

increasingly polluted. Our food and water sources are contaminated

with chemicals. One of our main defenses against pollutants is

glutathione, which is present in the liver in high concentrations.

Glutathione acts as a detoxifying agent by combining with undesirable

substances and ridding the body of them through urine and bile.

 

To Get a Little More Technical About Glutathione

" Glutathione is a ubiquitous tripeptide molecule, consisting of three

amino acids joined together. These are cysteine, glutamic acid and

glycine - three of the twenty two amino acids which comprise the

building blocks of all known proteins. In general, the amino-end of

one amino acid combines with the acid-end of another to form a

peptide bond with the elimination of water. Chains of amino acids are

called proteins. The sequence of amino acids and the arrangement in

space of each peptide bond defines some specific structural features

of all proteins and olegopeptides (few amino acids in sequence) that

relate to their function. "

 

" Glutathione is only synthesized inside cells, in a series of steps

catalysed by specific enzymes. "

 

Glutathione is only synthesized inside the cell

 

" Many attempts have been made to enhance glutathione but beside the

use of whey protein concentrate, all other approaches have proved

futile for a number of reasons. "

 

Source Dr. Allan Somersall PhD, M.D.

 

Glutathione (Psychoneurobiology)

 

" Free radicals and oxyradicals have been recognized by

psychoneurobiologist as playing an important role in the development

and progression of many of these disorders. The brain is particularly

susceptible to free radical attack because it generates more

oxidative-by-products per gram of tissue than any other organ. The

brain's main antioxidant is glutathione- it's importance cannot be

overstated. "

 

" Oxidative stress and glutathione are important factors in such

various disorders as brain injury, neurodegenerative disease,

schizophrenia, Down syndrome and other pathologies. "

 

Disorders of the brain and nervous system that are linked to

oxidative stress

 

Brain Injury Neurodegenerative

disease Others

Brain injury Parkinson's disease Schizophrenia

Trauma Alzheimer's dementia Down syndrome

Stroke Multiple sclerosis (MS) Tardive dyskinesia

Ischemia Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) Sleep deprivation

Toxicity of lead, mercury, etc. Lipofuscinosis (Batten's disease)

Huntington's chorea

 

" Many neurological and psychiatric disease processes are

characterized by high levels of oxidative stress and free radical

formation, as well as abnormalities in glutathione metabolism and

antioxidant defenses. "

 

Source Dr. Gutman M.D. Glutathione GSH

 

Dr. Perlmutter: " Eighty to ninety percent improve dramatically. It's

felt that the mechanism that allows it to work is in increasing the

sensitivity to certain receptors to dopamine. Glutathione doesn't

raise dopamine levels, but it allows the dopamine in the brain to be

more effective. That's not a new idea in medicine. Diabetic drugs

work not by increasing insulin, but by increasing the receptors to

insulin. Glutathione not only increases sensitivity to dopamine, but

also to serotonin, which may explain why many of our depressed PD

patients have a remarkable improvement. " For complete article Click

Here

 

Increasing glutathione in the body has been proven to be essential in

the treatment of disease. Antidepressants and other medications

deplete the body and brain of glutathione.

 

Functions of Glutathione

 

Enhancing the Immune System - Your bodies immune activity, involving

unimpeded multiplication of lymphocytes and antibody production,

requires maintenance of normal levels of glutathione inside the

lymphocytes.

 

Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenger - Glutathione plays a central

protective role against the damaging effects of bacteria, viruses,

pollutants and free radicals.

 

Regulator of Other Antioxidants - Without glutathione, other

important antioxidants such as vitamins C and E cannot do their job

adequately to protect your body against disease.

 

A Detoxifying Agent - Another major function of glutathione is in the

detoxification of foreign chemical compounds such as carcinogens and

harmful metabolites.

 

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http://www.objectivemedicine.com/sample3glutathione.htm

 

The following is an excerpt from the E-book on the site above

 

GLUTATHIONE

 

See also: Milk Thistle, N-acetylcysteine, whey protein concentrate,

bovine thymic protein, vitamin C.

 

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that is produced in the liver.

The largest store of glutathione are found in the liver, where it

detoxifies harmful compounds so that they cab be excreted through the

bile. Supplemental glutathione is expensive and the

effectiveness of oral formulas is questionable. (3)

 

 

A better way to raise glutathione levels is to supply the body with

the raw materials it uses to make this compound: cysteine, glutamic

acid, and glycine. The N-acetyl form of cysteine (N-acetylcysteine)

is

considered particularly effective for this purpose.(3)

The goal is to raise " tissue glutathione levels " . Glutathione pays a

critical role in the defense against free-radical damage.

 

A deficiency of intracellular glutathione has been identified in a

number of clinical conditions including cancer, alcohol-induced liver

disease, and AIDS. (2) A patient with hepatitis may want to ask their

doctor if they are deficient of glutathione or whether their form of

hepatitis is identified as having this deficiency.

 

Question: Do glutathione or N-acytlcysteine supplements elevate and

maintain good tissue glutathione levels?

 

Here is what Michael T. Murray N.D. has written on the subject,

" Studies indicate that vitamin C can decrease cellular damage in

patients with hereditary glutathione deficiency and is more effective

and less expensive than N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Vitamin C may offer

the benefits attributed to NAC at only a slightly reduced cost. Over

the past 5 to 10 years, the use of NAC and glutathione products as

antioxidants has become increasingly popular among nutritionally

oriented physicians and the public. Some biochemists believe that NAC

acts as a precursor for glutathione and that taking extra glutathione

should raise tissue glutathione levels. While supplementing the diet

with high does of NAC may be beneficial in cases of extreme oxidative

stress (e.g., AIDs), it may be an unwise proactive in healthy

individuals.

 

One study indicated ... a dose of 1.2 grams per day... actually

increased oxidative damage by acting as a pro-oxidant. Intravenous

glutathione shows some promise in increasing intracellular

glutathione concentrations; however, the question of oral absorption

remains in doubt. A daily dosage of 500 milligrams of vitamin C may

be sufficient to elevate good tissue glutathione levels.

 

Consumers and physicians... may want to use vitamin c instead of

higher priced 'super antioxidants'. "

 

Some sources indicate that Hepatitis C patients have a systemic

depletion of glutathione, especially in the liver and they believe

this factor may be underlying the resistance to interferon therapy.

Thus it is believed by some that supplements such as NAC and

glutathione can be adjuvant or assisting therapies to interferon.

 

Other alternative solutions/supplements that have been reported to

boost glutathione levels are: Whey protein isolate concentrate

powder, garlic, selenium, alpha lipoic acid, cysteine.

 

Many experts say that HCV patients have " severely depressed " levels

of glutathione. Although some reports are not conclusive. Matthew

Dolan sums it up,

" Whether of not HCV patients are consistently deficient in

glutathione, and therefore generally indicated for supplementation,

is a question that has yet to be satisfactorily answered. "

 

Even though it is not clear that HCV patients are consistently

deficient, raising glutathione levels seems that it would be a

favorable objective considering the benefits this substance is

reported to have within the liver. It is considered to be an

intracellular damage limiting agent which plays a major role in the

detoxification process. It is speculated that it also performs as in

immunomodulator which activates killer lymphocytes (important in the

immune system).

 

This topic, obviously should be discussed with your doctor. You would

first want to determine whether or not you fall into the category of

glutathione deficiency. Then you would want to discuss the available

options for increasing your glutathione levels.