Understanding Glutathione or GSH-The main antioxidant present in our bodies.

2007-08-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

Glutathione:
Understand how glutathione works so hard and well for us..we need to understand the balance in the body...how it strives to attain a state of "homeostasis" where all functions from the body as a whole..right down to the most sub-atomic energetic level within each cell is in harmony and purring along at optimum.

Glutathione is a molecule consisting of 3 amino acids that is produced in the liver. In addition to assuring the smooth functioning of metabolic processes, it has a protective role in the cells of humans and of most animal and plant. Glutathione is an important antioxidant, meaning that it can bind to toxic substances and lead to their excretion from the body through urine or bile. From: http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/ghi/glutathione.htm
Antioxidants -- the most well known of which are vitamins C and E -- are important for good health because they neutralize free radicals, which can build up in cells and cause damage. Because glutathione exists within the cells, it is in a prime position to neutralize free radicals. It also has potentially widespread health benefits because it can be found in all types of cells, including the cells of the immune system, whose job is to fight disease. From: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50746
Antioxidants are important for health preservation because they neutralize free radicals, which can build up in cells and cause damage. “Glutathione is a very interesting, very small molecule that’s [produced by the body and] found in every cell,” says Gustavo Bounous, MD, director of research and development at Immunotec and a retired professor of surgery at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. “It's the [body's] most important antioxidant because it's within the cell.”
GSH, like all proteins, consists of amino acids. It is a tripeptide (mixture of three amino acids) of glycine, glutamate (glutamic acid) and cysteine. Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid is the "rate-limiting" amino acid for the production of glutathione..its abundance or deficit ...limits the body’s ability to produce GSH. Its ability to protect the body comes from the fact that the sulfur (or thiol) group can donate electrons to quench the free radical craziness described above.
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
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).
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
How Glutathione should be taken:
Glutathione is probably not well absorbed into the body when taken by mouth. One way to get around that is to take it by vein. A more practical solution is to take the precursors -- that is, the molecules the body needs to make glutathione -- rather than glutathione itself. While there is no solid proof this works, the consensus among experts is that that doing so will increase the amount of glutathione in the cells.

Glutathione or 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)
Until now there has only been Immunocal, which only accelerates glutathione production up to 35%.
Just recently, a company called Max International came out with an incredible product called:
"Max GXL". This is a new glutathione accelerator that has been tested in lymphocytes and has been proven to raise glutathione levels on the average of 200% to 400%.
Learn more about Max GXL here: http://www.buymaxgxlonline.com.
Patients with HIV and HepC a well as other viral illnesses experienced a tremendous surge in their gluathione levels. Some Cancer patients that have undergone chemo treatments are also experiencing a raised level of glutathione after taking Max GXL.

MAXGXLblogger

Understanding Glutathione or GSH-The main antioxidant present in our bodies.