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How to Boost Glutathione Levels JoAnn Guest Apr 30, 2005 13:13 PDT

 

Glutathione is a small protein composed of three amino acids - cysteine,

glutamic acid, and glycine - that is involved in detoxification and

antioxidant mechanisms. Many toxins are dealt with by " handcuffing " the

toxin to another molecule so it can be escorted out of the body. The

process of adding one molecule to another is called conjugation.

Glutathione is one of the most important conjugating compounds in

helping the body eliminate fat-soluble toxins such as heavy metals,

solvents, and pesticides to transform them into a water-soluble form

allowing more efficient excretion via the kidneys.

 

 

Health Benefits

 

The combination of detoxification and free radical protection results in

glutathione being one of the most important cancer and aging fighters in

our cells. Dietary glutathione intake is associated with protection

against some forms of cancer.1,2

 

The greater the exposure to toxins, the faster the body uses up its

supply of glutathione. Without the protection of glutathione, cells die

at a faster rate, making people age quicker and putting them at risk for

toxin-induced diseases including cancer.

 

People who smoke, are chronically exposed to toxins, suffer from

inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, or suffer from

chronic conditions like diabetes, AIDS or cancer typically have lower

levels of glutathione. It's a vicious cycle: health problems deplete the

supply of glutathione, and reduced levels of glutathione increase the

risk of health problems.

 

In addition to its dietary role in enhancing detoxification and

protecting against cancer, studies using intravenous glutathione have

found it to be useful in: preventing clot formation during operations,3

reducing the side effects and efficacy of chemotherapy drugs like

cisplatin,4,5 Parkinson's disease,6 and increasing sperm counts in men

with low sperm counts.7,8 A small study in eight patients with liver

cancer showed modest effects when given at a daily dosage of 5,000 mg

orally.12 Whether increasing dietary intake with glutathione is

effective in these conditions is unknown at this time

 

 

Dietary Glutathione is Better than Supplements

 

Don't look to expensive supplements containing glutathione to boost

levels of glutathione in the body. While dietary forms of glutathione

appear to be efficiently absorbed into the blood, the same does not

appear to be true for glutathione supplements in humans. When healthy

subjects were given a single dose of up to 3,000 mg of glutathione

researchers found there was no increase in blood glutathione levels.11

The authors of the study concluded " it is not feasible to increase

circulating glutathione to a clinically beneficial extent by the oral

administrating of a single dose of 3 g of glutathione. " In contrast,

blood glutathione levels rose nearly 50% in healthy individuals taking

500 mg of vitamin C.12 Vitamin C raises glutathione by helping the body

manufacture it. In addition, to vitamin C, dietary sources of

glutathione and several other nutritional compounds can help increase

glutathione levels including N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alpha-lipoic acid,

glutamine, methionine, and whey protein. Also, vitamin B6, riboflavin,

and selenium are required in the manufacture of glutathione.

 

As far as foods go, fresh fruits and vegetables provide excellent levels

of glutathione, but cooked foods contained far less.10 Asparagus,

avocado, and walnuts are particularly rich dietary sources of

glutathione.

 

 

Table 1. Comparison of Glutathione in Fresh vs. Cooked Foods

Glutathione amount (dry weight)

(in milligrams per 31/2 oz (100 g) serving)

 

Food Uncooked Cooked

Apples 21 0.0

Carrots 74.6 0.0

Grapefruit 70.6 0.0

Spinach 166 27.1

Tomatoes 169 0.0

 

 

For Additional Support in Boosting Glutathione Levels

 

If you need to really boost your glutathione levels because your liver

needs powerful nutritional support due to disease or environmental

stress, then I strongly recommend Liver Health from Natural Factors.

Basically, this formula provides nutritional and herbal compounds that

spare glutathione allowing it to be reserved for more complex reactions.

You can liken some of the compounds the liver uses for detoxification

such as glucuronate as cheaper currency for detoxification compared to

the high price of glutathione. Like glutathione, glucuronate is used by

the liver to bind to toxins to help eliminate them from the system. But,

it is like a dollar bill and glutathione is like a $100 bill.

 

Of all the many chemical reactions taking place in the liver cell, the

attachment of glucuronate to toxic substances is considered the most

important. When glucuronate levels are low, the liver has to use the

more expensive currency - glutathione. That currency ultimately depletes

the liver's glutathione bank account resulting in significantly impaired

detoxification and liver function. By providing glucuronate and other

supportive nutrients, the Liver Health Formula reduces the stress on the

liver and enhances the liver's ability to detoxify. Clinical studies

have shown glucuronate supplementation can improve liver function

considerably even in cases of poor liver function due to alcohol abuse,

acute and chronic hepatitis, exposure to toxic substances, and

diabetes.13,14

 

For more information on Liver Health, go to

http://www.doctormurray.com/articles/pdfs/LiverHealth.pdf

 

 

 

Key References:

 

Sen CK. Nutritional biochemistry of cellular glutathione. Nutr Biochem

1997;8:660-72.

Flagg EW, Coates RJ, Jones DP, et al. Dietary glutathione intake and the

risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1994;139:453-65.

Molloy J, Martin JF, Baskerville PA, et al. S-nitrosoglutathione reduces

the rate of embolization in humans. Circulation 1998;98(14):1372-5

Smyth JF, Bowman A, Perren T, et al. Glutathione reduces the toxicity

and improves quality of life of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer

treated with cisplatin: results of a double-blind, randomised trial. Ann

Oncol 1997;8(6):569-73.

Cascinu S, Cordella L, Del Ferro E, et al. Neuroprotective effect of

reduced glutathione on cisplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric

cancer: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Oncol

1995;13(1):26-32.

Sechi G, Deledda MG, Bua G, et al. Reduced intravenous glutathione in

the treatment of early Parkinson's disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol

Biol Psychiatry 1996;20(7):1159-70.

Lenzi A, Picardo M, Gandini L, et al. Glutathione treatment of

dyspermia: effect on the lipoperoxidation process. Hum Reprod

1994;9(11):2044-50.

Lenzi A, Culasso F, Gandini L, et al. Placebo-controlled, double-blind,

cross-over trial of glutathione therapy in male infertility. Hum Reprod

1993;8(10):1657-62.

Dalhoff K, Ranek L, Mantoni M, Poulsen HE. Glutathione treatment of

hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver 1992;12:341-3.

Jones DP, Coates RJ, Flagg EW, et al. Glutathione in foods listed in the

National Cancer Institutes Health Habits and History Food Frequency

Questionnaire. Nutr Cancer 1995;17:57-75.

Witschi A, Reddy S, Stofer B, Lauterburg BH. The systemic availability

of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1992;43(6):667-9.

Johnston CJ, Meyer CG, Srilakshmi JC. Vitamin C elevates red blood cell

glutathione in healthy adults. Am J Clin Nutr 58:103-5, 1993.

Miglio F, et al. Efficacy and safety of oral betaine glucuronate in

non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Arzneim Forsch 2000;8:722-7.

Miglio F, et al. Efficacy of glucuronates versus placebo in chronic

hepatitis: A randomized, double-blind study. Advances Therapy

1995;12:299-312.

 

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© 2003 www.doctormurray.com

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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