Glutathione: A Super Antioxidant

Glutathione [gloo-tuh-thahy-ohn] is a protein that defends the body against toxins. It is being categorized as a “super antioxidant” that prevents damage caused by free radicals and peroxisomes.1 It helps slow the aging process, it protects the brain and the liver, and bolsters the immune system.2

Free Radicals and Antioxidants

Free radicals are unstable molecules that have an odd number of electrons in their outer most shell. They steal electrons from other compounds in order to become stable again. Now that this compound has lost an electron, it becomes a free radical and will also take an electron from a neighboring compound. This process can trigger a chain reaction that can damage or destroy cells. Damage to DNA by free radicals can cause mutations and possibly cancer.

Antioxidants are molecules that are stable with either an odd or an even number of electrons, so they stop this destructive chain reaction when they give up an electron. Some free radicals are a natural byproduct of metabolism, yet our bodies are bombarded by free radicals from pollution, poor diet, drugs, stress, injury, aging, and environmental toxins.

There are over 90 diseases that have been linked to free radicals. Among the most significant are cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and autoimmune disorders.

Biochemistry

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide made by linking cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine together.

GSH-Chem-Structure1

It acts as an antioxidant by giving up an electron on the thiol group to a free radical. It will then most likely bond to another glutathione molecule that has lost an electron thus forming glutathione disulfide (GSSG).

GSSG-Chem-Structure1

Uses of Glutathione

    • Glutathione is the body’s main antioxidant enzyme in controlling free radical damage.
    • Aids the liver in removing harmful chemicals such as drugs, toxins and pollutants.3ti
    • Protects the immune system, the nervous system, and the GI system.4
    • Glutathione levels are invariably low in AIDS, cancer, and chronically ill patients.5
    • It is used in the synthesis of DNA, protein, and prostaglandin synthesis.
    • Protects the mitochondrial membranes against peroxynitrite.
    • It is used in amino acid transport.
    • May reduce cancer development by changing reactive oxygen species levels.6, 7
    • Glutathione helps rid the body of metabolic toxins like pyruvaldehyde.
    • Glutathione can act as an antidote to acetaminophen overdose by binding NAPQI.
    • Most CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) patients do not produce enough Glutathione.8

Glutathione Production in the Liver

Glutathione synthesis in the liver has been shown to be essential 9, or in other words, the liver cannot make a sufficient amount of glutathione for good health. Especially with the vast amounts of drugs, toxins, and pesticides our livers are forced to metabolize, supplementation is needed.

Poor Bioavailability

Glutathione’s benefits have been known for years, yet supplementation has been difficult because it is not absorbed well from the GI tract when taken orally, even in high doses. Ten intravenous injections are only available by visiting a medical clinic, and can be both costly and intimidating.

Orally-disintegrating tablets that dissolve on the tongue are a much less costly and invasive alternative.×

Many drugs, including multiple-chain protein complexes absorb well through the oral mucosa. Thus, rapid dissolve glutathione tablets are the most convenient and economical way to provide your body with one of the world’s most powerful super antioxidants.

References

  1. Pompella, A; Visvikis, A; Paolicchi, A; De Tata, V; Casini, AF (2003). “The changing faces of glutathione, a cellular protagonist”. Biochemical Pharmacology 66 (8): 1499–503. doi:10.1016/S0006-2952(03)00504-5. PMID 14555227.
  2. Glutathione (GSH) – The Ultimate Natural Anti-Aging Anti-Oxidant. www.ezinearticles.com/? Glutathione-%28GSH%29—The-Ultimate-Natural-Anti-Aging-Anti-Oxidant@id=3048302.
  3. Palkhivala A. (2001). “Glutathione: New Supplement on the Block”. www.webmd.com/foodrecipes/features/glutathione-new-supplement-on-block
  4. www.drugs.com/pdr/immunocal-powder-sachets.html
  5. Health Benefits of Glutathione: The Body’s Master Antioxidant. www.healthreport.co.uk/glutathione.htm
  6. Park (2009). “The effects of N-acetyl cysteine, buthionine sulfoximine, diethyldithiocarbamate or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on antimycin A-treated Calu-6 lung cells in relation to cell growth, reactive oxygen species and glutathione”. Oncology Reports: 385–91. doi:10.3892/or_00000449.
  7. Chow, H.-H. S.; Hakim, I. A.; Vining, D. R.; Crowell, J. A.; Tome, M. E.; Ranger-Moore, J.; Cordova, C. A.; Mikhael, D. M. et al. (2007). “Modulation of Human Glutathione S-Transferases by Polyphenon E Intervention”. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 16 (8): 1662–6.
  8. Nitric Oxide, Superoxide & Peroxynitrite. www.medicalinsider.com/cardiac3.html
  9. Chen, Y; Yang, Y; Miller, M.; Shen, D; Shertzer, H; Stringer, K; Wang, B; Schneider, S. et al. (2007). “Hepatocyte-specificGclcdeletion leads to rapid onset of steatosis with mitochondrial injury and liver failure”. Hepatology 45 (5): 1118–28. doi:10.1002/ hep.21635. PMID 17464988.
  10. Witschi, A.; Reddy, S.; Stofer, B.; Lauterburg, B. H. (1992). “The systemic availability of oral glutathione”. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 43 (6): 667–9. doi:10.1007/BF02284971.PMID 1362956.

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