Nutritional - Glutathione

Glutathione (GSH) is not technically an amino acid, however, due to its close relationship is normally grouped with the amino acids. Most glutathione is found in the liver where it detoxifies many harmful compounds to be excreted through the bile. Some glutathione is released directly by the liver into the bloodstream where it helps to maintain the strength of your red blood cells and also protecting your white blood cells. Glutathione can also be found in the lungs and in your body's intestinal tract system. It is required for carbohydrate metabolism.

Glutathione protects cells in several ways. It neutralizes oxygen molecules before they can harm cells. Together with selenium, it forms the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which neutralizes hydrogen peroxide. It is also a component of another antioxidant enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase, which is a broad-spectrum liver-detoxifying enzyme.

Glutathione protects not only individual cells but also the tissues of the arteries, brain, heart, immune cells, kidneys, lenses of the eyes, liver, lungs, and skin against oxidant damage. The production of glutathione by the body can be boosted by taking supplemental N-acetylcysteine or L-cysteine plus L-methionine. Studies suggest that this may be a better way or raising glutathione levels than taking glutathione itself.

Oral use of glutathione as a nutritional suppliement has been explicity mentioned by leading authorities on glutathione. If dietary glutathione is insufficient, oxidative stress, toxity, and cell damage may occur to mucocal cells in the small intestine.

Glutathione deficiency maybe indicated by: coordination problems, mental disorder, tremors, twitching, nervous system disorder, and difficulty in balancing.

References

• Bray, T.M. and Taylor, C.G., Tissue glutathione, nutrition, and oxidative stress. Canadian J Physiol. Pharmacol 71 (1993) 746-751.
• Vincenzini, M.T., Favilli, F., Iantomasi, T., Intestinal uptake and transmembrane transport systems of intact GSH; characteristics and possible biological role. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1113 (1992) 13-23.
• Hagen, T.M. et al., Fate of dietary glutathione: disposition in the gastrointestinal tract. Am Physiological Society, 0193-1857-90 (1990) 6530-6535.
• Vincenzini, M.T. Iantomasi, T. and Favilli, F., Glutathione transport across intestinal brush-border membranes: effects of ions, pH, delta psi, and inhibitors. Biochim et Biophys Acta 987 (1989) 29-37.
• Hagen, T.M. et al., Bioavailablilty of dietary glutathione: effect on plasma concentration. Am Physiol Soc 0193-1857-90 (1990) G524-G529.
• Martensson, J., Jain, A. and Meister, A., Glutathione is required for intestinal function. Proc Nat Acad SCi USA 87 (1990) 1715-1719.