Glutathione is a non-essential amino acid meaning it is made by the body and is formed from cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. It is found in every cell of all human tissues, with the highest concentrations found in the liver and eyes. It is the body’s most important antioxidant because it is within the cell. It is also believed that glutathione carries nutrients to lymphocytes and phagocytes, important immune system cells.
N-acetyl-cysteine has been used for years to help treat asthma and lung disease and to treat people with life-threatening liver failure from Tylenol overdose. It is even given to prevent kidney damage from dyes used during x-ray studies.
Glutathione is a potent antioxidant, protecting fatty tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals. The antioxidant activity of glutathione is attributed specifically to the presence of cysteine in the compound. Glutathione also plays a vital role in the detoxification of harmful substances in the liver such as drugs and pollutants and can chelate (attach to) heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium.
Glutathione is a superb chelator of mercury meaning it can clear the body of the heavy metal and prevent associated diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Heating or pasteurisation destroys the delicate disulphide bonds that give these proteins their bioactivity.
As an immune system booster and a detoxifier it can help the body repair damage caused by aging, anxiety, burns, drugs, infection, injury, pollution, poor diet, radiation, stress and trauma.
Glutathione has the potential to fight almost any disease, particularly those associated with aging, since free radical damage is the cause of many of the diseases of old age. It can also help to treat chronic fatigue syndrome and reduce the seizures of epilepsy.
Deficiency of glutathione
Low levels of glutathione can be connected to most degenerative disease, illness and adverse health conditions. People who have cancer, HIV/AIDS, or other very serious disease, are almost invariably deficient in glutathione.
Health disorders that may be caused by glutathione deficiency
- Addictions
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Allergies
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Autism
- Hair loss and balding
- Bronchitis
- Cancer
- Cataracts
- Chronic fatigue
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Erectile dysfunction
- Fibromyalgia
- HIV (AIDS)
- Infertility
- Insomnia
- Low energy
- Low sex drive
- Lupus
- Male infertility
- Migraines
- Multiple sclerosis
- Osteoporosis
- Joint and back pain
- Parkinson’s disease
- Poor eyesight
- Premenstrual tension
- Multiple sclerosis
- Psoriasis
- Respiratory disorders
- Scleroderma
- Schizophrenia
- Wrinkles
Natural sources of the precursors that can assist the body to make glutathione
NOTE: The above plant foods must be unpasteurised, organic and eaten raw, juiced or blended when possible. Tomatoes are an exception as they are more nutritional when cooked.
Nutrients required to increase levels of glutathione
Medications which deplete or block absorption of methionine, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), of which there are many, may also decrease the production of the amino acid glutathione.
A family of antioxidants including vitamins C and E (in the form of mixed tocopherols) work together to recycle glutathione. The following nutrients are also required for glutathione to be manufactured and used efficiently:
- Alpha lipoic acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamic acid
- Glycine
- Methionine
- Selenium
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B9 (folate)
- Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
Related subjects
- A-Z of nutrients
- Alzheimers disease
- Bone and joint disorders
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Epilepsy
- Eye disorders
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
- Liver disorders
- Menstrual disorders
- Mercury poisoning
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinsons disease
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