Glutathione Research
What is it?
Glutathione is a tri-peptide consisting of amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. The body builds Glutathione as it needs to detoxify, perform oxidation, clean up inflammation, or eliminate toxins.
Where is it found?
Glutathione is found in every cell, tissue, and blood – measured as high as one millimolar.
What does it do?
White blood cells and the liver cells use glutathione to eliminate poisons and toxins within the body. It is the principle antioxidant for the deep lung. It is required to detoxify the nicotine and free radicals in smoke, exhaust fumes from vehicles, and environmental toxins like pesticides. It removes heavy metals like Mercury, Lead, and Cadmium. It removes pollutants and the damage from ultraviolet radiation. This step forms a water soluble molecule that can be excreted by the kidneys.
Glutathione acts to reconstitute vitamins C and E after they are oxidized. It cleans up in the inflammation process. It plays roles in catalysis, metabolism, signal transduction, gene expression and apoptosis. It is a cofactor for glutathione S-transferases, enzymes which are involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics, including carcinogenic genotoxicants, and for the glutathione peroxidases, crucial selenium-containing antioxidant enzymes.
Functional Glutathione Deficiency
There are serious problems associated with a Glutathione deficiency. It creates hemolytic anemia, fragile erythrocyte membranes, liver damage, and death. This affects HIV, Parkinson Disease, aging, lung disorders, autoimmune disorders, wrinkles, psoriasis, and malignancies including cancer. An overdose of acetaminophen creates a functional Glutathione deficiency with ensuing death.
Glutathione balance
In healthy tissue ninety percent of glutathione exists in reduced form. Only ten percent exists in its disulfide form. This balance is a healthy predictor of the outcome of many disorders.
Reduce the effect of aging
Glutathione production has been found to decrease with age. A new nanotechnology patch using reflective light wave antennas that run off your body heat allows a boost in the production of glutathione from 200 to 300 percent.
Internet Links for Glutathione
Amino Acid: http://www.vitacost.com/Healthnotes/Supp/Glutathione.aspx
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutathione
Health Industry: http://www.1whey2health.com/index.htm
Biochemistry: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/glu_0126.shtml