Glutathione (GHS) in Health and Disease

It is believed that glutathione has an important role to play in the prevention and treatment of disease. It may in the future be considered as important to health as an alkaline diet, exercise and alkaline lifestyle. Clinical tests show that raised glutathione levels may address some of the eight major health issues of our time:

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Medical science is still ascertaining all the critical roles played by glutathione in disease resistance and general good health. Clinical evidence links low glutathione levels to the most common illnesses of our time as well as newly emerging diseases.

As an essential aid to health, glutathione works as the master antioxidant in our body, optimizes the white blood cells and detoxifies a long list of pollutants and carcinogens or acids.

Pharmaceutical medicine has created drugs that do this very effectively. They have their uses in critical situations. But they also have side effects and repeated use is clearly inadvisable.

“It is well documented that glutathione GSH sold as a dietary supplement is mostly
destroyed through digestion and therefore is of little use.”

– Patricia A.L. Kongshavn, Ph.D.,

Former Professor Department of Medicine, McGill University,

Montreal, Canada

Further Reading & Scientific Research Books on Glutathione:

Glutathione (pronounced ‘gloota-thigh-own’) is the body’s essential health ABC’s – Antioxidant, Blood Booster and Cell
Detoxifer. It is a tripeptide composed of glutamic, cysteine and glycine. Glutathione is found in all cells in the body, including
the bile, the epithelial lining fluid of the lungs, and – at much smaller concentrations – in the blood. Glutathione is the
smallest intracellular non-protein (molecule containing an S_H or sulfhydryl group) molecule in the cells. This characteristic
emphasizes its potent antioxidant action and supports a multifaceted thiol exchange system, which regulates cell activity.
This small protein, produced naturally in the body, maintains these three crucial protective functions. In fact, your life
depends on glutathione. Without it, your cells would disintegarate from unrestrained oxidation, your body would have little
resistance to metabolic acids, and your liver would shrivel up from the eventual accumulation of acidic toxins. disease
Glutathione is not yet a household word. Even some medical and holistic doctors who have heard the term may still have
only a vague idea of what it is. However, everyone will soon be talking about this critical nonnutritive substance. There
was a time when only scientists had heard of cholesterol and vitamins, but today, everyone knows about them. Now the
magnificence of glutathione is becoming known. In the last five years, over 25,000 medical articles about this substance
have been published, and the scientific understanding of glutathione is gradually becoming common knowledge.
Each and every cell in the body is responsible for its own supply of glutathione and must have the necessary raw materials
in order to produce it. Glutathione is always in great demand and is rapidly consumed when we experience any sort of
emotional or physical stress, fatigue and even moderate exercise. Some well-known causes of glutathione depletion are
as follows:
1) Acidic lifestyle and diet
2) Air and Water pollution
3) Prescription and recreational drugs
4) Ultraviolet and Radiation from cells phones, computers, electrical cars, power lines, hair dryers, etc.
5) Emotional and physical stress
6) Injury, trauma or burns
7) Heavy metals
Cigarette smoke
9) Household chemicals
10) Acetaminophen poisoning
11) Exhaust from motor vehicles
12) Septic shock
All of these above factors lead to a build up of acidic toxins that cause the loss of glutathione as a nonnutritive buffer leading
to cellular aging, disease and finally death.
Why is Glutathione Essential to Health? Glutathione’s three major roles in the body are summarized by the letters A-B-C.
- Antioxidant
- Blood Booster
- Cell Detoxifier
These are the three critical processes driven by glutathione.
The Master Antioxidant
Over the past thirty years, researchers have explored the role of antioxidants in good health as well as the treatment and
prevention of diseases involving oxidation or fermentation by metabolic acids. Well-known and widely used antioxidants
such as vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium neutralize acid. They occur naturally in nature, but not in the body. They must
be introduced as part of a balanced diet. Given the critical role of antioxidants in good health, it is not surprising that the
body itself manufactures its own natural antioxidants. The most important of these is glutathione. Because all other antioxidants
depend upon the presence of glutathione to function properly, scientists call it ‘the master antioxidant.’
Glutathione binds to toxins, forming a water-soluble complex – which is ultimately excreted in the urine or bile as waste.
Food for the Blood
Elevated glutathione levels enable the body to produce more white blood cells. White blood cells are the body’s garbage
collectors and are the most important cells for maintaining sterility of the body fluids. Glutathione plays a central role in the
proper function of the white blood cells. Dr. Bustavo Bounous, a leading glutathione expert, says, ‘The limiting factor in

the proper activity of our lymphocytes (the white blood cells) is the availability of glutathione.’ In other words, healthy
growth and activity of the white blood cells depends upon glutathione’s availability. Put simply, glutathione is ‘food’ for the
white blood cells.
Cellular Detoxifier
Whether we know it or not, we are continually inhaling and ingesting natural and synthetic acidic toxins. They are unavoidable
in these modern times both in our polluted cities and our poorly engineered food supplies. When the body
has the health and the nourishment it needs, it works tirelessly to eliminate acidic toxins and to protect itself. But, increasing
levels of environmental pollution are depleting the body’s store of glutathione more and more rapidly. Our main organ
of detoxification of acidic waste products is the lymphatic system and the liver. This is the body’s most concentrated
source of glutathione. Studies show that low glutathione levels lead to poor lymphatic and liver function, causing more and
more acidic toxins to circulate through the body and resulting in damage to individual cells and organs. Medical doctors
today routinely use glutathione-promoting drugs to detoxify victims of certain types of drug overdose.
Glutathione in Natural Medicine
Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have long advocated the use of milk thistle for liver problems.
It turns out that this herb works by modestly elevating glutathione levels. The mineral selenium also produces subtle
elevations in glutathione by becoming integrated into the glutathione peroxidase.
Glutathione in Traditional Medicine
Emergency medical doctors, toxicologists and lung and liver specialists are well acquainted with glutathione’s therapeutic
uses. American physicians seeking ways to raise a patient’s glutathione levels can open the standard Physician’s Desk
Reference (PDR) and find two options – the pharmaceutical drugs sold under the names Parlodex and Mucomyst, and the
natural dietary supplement found in natural foods stores derived from whey protein isolate.
Drugs That Raise Glutathione Levels
Pharmaceutical drugs like Procysteine, OTC, OTX, Glutathione monoesters and Glutathione diesters have been used to
raise glutathione levels. However,
they all produce side effects and are unsuitable for long term use. This pharmaceutical nonnutritive chemical is used
to break up mucus in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and asthma. It remains the standard treatment
for acetaminophen overdose.
Glutathione in Health and Disease
It is believed that glutathione has an important role to play in the prevention and treatment of disease. It may in the future
be considered as important to health as an alkaline diet, exercise and alkaline lifestyle. Clinical tests show that raised
glutathione levels may address some of the eight major health issues of our time:
1) Cardiovascular
- Prevents heart disease – Shimizu H, Kiyohara Y, Kitazono T, Kubo M, Ibayashi S, Fufishima M, Lida M. Relationship Between
Plasma Glutathione Levels and Cardiovascular Disease in a Defined Population:The Hisyama Study. Stroke. 2004
Sep; 35(9):2072-7.
- Prevents stroke – Paterson PG, Juurlink BH. Nutritional Regulation of Glutathione in Stroke. Neurtox Res. 1999 Dec;
1(2): 99-112.
- Prevents atherosclerosis – Coppola L, Grassia A, Giunta R. Glutathione Improves Hemostatic and Hemorrheological Parameters
in Atherosclerotic Subject. Drugs Exp. Clin Res 1992 18:493-98
- Reverses artherosclerosis
- Prevents reperfusion injury
2) Cancer

- Cancer causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been found to alter levels of glutathione compounds in experiments,
which may alter the
body’s resistance to certain types of cancer. Glutathione deficiencies have been linked to many forms of cancer.
- Prevents cancerous tissue
- Suppresses tumor growth
- Eliminates carcinogen – acids
- Retards oxidative stress
- Prevents wasting disease
- Eases side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
3) Pulmonary
- Glutathione is the most efficient free radical (acid) scavenger in the airways, and dozens of studies have confirmed that
free radical (acid) damage is a primary player in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Rahman I, MacNee W. Oxidative
Stress and Regulation of Glutathione in Lung Inflammation. Eur Respir J. 2000 Sep; 16(3):534-54.
- Breaks up mucus – Rahman I, MacNee W. Oxidative Stress and Regulation of Glutathione in Lung Inflammation. Eur
Respir J. 2000 Sep;16(3):534-54
- Cystic fibrosis – Glutathione neutralized harmful oxidants introduced into the lungs or those released by cells. Exotoxins
from bacteria can overload the
endobronchial terrain and feed the fires of acidic inflammation. This staggering burden increases the oxidative sensitivity
of the CF lung, resulting in further
injury of lung parenchyma. Data supports evidence of a decrease in the antioxidant tri-peptide glutathione (Roum JH, Buhl
R, McElvaney NG, et al. Systemic Deficiency of Glutathione in Systic Fibrosis. J Appl Physiol 1993; 75:19-24).
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema – Lamson, David, MD, Grignall, Matthew, ND. The use of Nebulized Glutathione in the Treatment of Emphysema:
A Case Report. Altern Med
Review. 5(5);429-431, 2000 Oct.
- Pulmonary fibrosis – Ishii T, Fujishiro M, Nakajima J, Teramoto S, Ouchi Y, Matsuse T. Depletion of Glutathion STransferase
P1 Induces Apoptosis in Human Lung Fibroblasts. Exp Lung Res. 29(7);523-36, 2003 Oct-Nov.
4) Aging
- Glutathione is critically important to our brain as it is one of the most important brain antioxidants. Glutathione helps preserve
brain tissue by preventing damage from free radicals (acids). In addition to quenching dangerous acids, glutathione
also acts to recycle vitamin E, which also has the ability to reduce acidity in the brain. (Perlmutter D.,
BrainRecovery.com July 2004, 5th ed:13)
- Autism – Medical literature documents that an out-fection can lead to a lowering of glutathione which participates in detoxification,
interacts with metallothioneins, and supports many crucial aspects of immunity. A link between glutathione and
autism regression may derive from the fact that transient or
chronic intestinal problems can impair an infant’s or toddler’s nutritional status, thereby minimizing the levels of aminoacids
required for the production of glutathione (McCandless, J. Children With Starving Brains. 2003, 2nd ed; 252)
- Parkinson’s Disease – Glutathione helps to preserve brain tissue by preventing damage from free radicals (acids) and
destructive chemicals formed by the normal processes of metabolism, toxic elements in the environment, and as a normal
response of the body to challenges by acidic agents or other stresses. With the understanding that glutathione is important
for brain protection and that this protection many be lacking in the brains of Parkinson’s clients due to glutathione deficiency,
it can be seen as very beneficial. (Di Monte DA, Cahn P, Sandy MS. Glutathione in Parkinson’s Disease: A Link
Between Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage? An Neurol. 32 Suppl; S111-115, 1992.)
- Alzheimer’s Dis-ease – Woltjer, R.L., Hgheim W., Maezawa I., Vaisar T, Montine K.S., Montine T.J., Role of Glutathione in
Intracellular Amyloid-Alpha Precursor Protein/Carboxy-Terminal Fragment Aggregation and Associated Cytotoxicity. J
Neurochem. 2005 May; 93 (4):1047-56.

- Huntington’s Disease – Choo Y.S., Mao Z, Johnson GV, Lesort M. Increased Glutathione Levels In Cortical Striatal Mitochondria
of the R6/2 Huntington’s Disease Mouse Model. Neuroscience Letter. 2005 Sep 23; 386(1): 63-8.
- Multiple Sclerosis – Calabrese V, Scapaginini G, Ravagna A, Bella R, Butterfield DA, Calvani M, Pennisi G, Giuffrida
Stella AM. Disruption of Thiol Homeostasis and Nitrostative Stress in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Active Multiple
Sclerosis: Evidence for a Protective Role of Acetylcarnitine. 2003 Sep; 28(9):1321-8. Mann CL, Davies MB, Aldersea
J, Fryer AA, Jones PK, Ko Ko C, Young C, Strange RC, Hawkins CP. Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms in MS:
Their Relationship to Disability. Neurology. 2000 Feb 8;54(3):542-7.
- ALS – Tohgi H, Abe T, Yamazaki K, Murata T, Ishizake E, Isobe C. Increase in Oxidized Products and Reduction in Oxidized
Glutathione in Cerborospinal Fluid From Patients with Sporadic Form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurosci
Lett. 1999 Feb 5; 260(3):204-6.
- Cataract formation
- Macular degeneration
- Cancers of aging
- Prostate problems
- Osteoarthritis – Hammarqvist F, Luo JL, cotgreave IA, Andersson K, Wernerman J. Skeletal Muscle Glutathione is Depleted
In Critically Ill Patients. Crit Care Med. 25(1):78-84 1997 Jan.
5) Digestive
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Hepatitis
- Malnutrition
- Pancratititis
- Peptic ulcer
6) Toxicology
- Detoxifies certain drug overdoses – Acetaminophen has been shown to reduce glutathione production, thus paving the
way for enhanced brain destruction by metabolic acids. (Perlmutter D. July 2004, 5th ed:108)
- Detoxifies substances in cigarette smoke and auto exhaust – Rahman I, MacNee W.Lung Glutathione and Oxidative
Stress: Implications In Cigarette Smoke-Induced Airway Disease. Am J Physiol. 277(6 Pt 1);1067-88, 1999 Dec.
- Detoxifies pollutants including heavy metals and pesticides – Elevated glutathione levels have been shown to protect
tissue form lipid peroxidation created by exposure to certain metals. Consider infusions of glutathione to relieve the body
burden of both neurotoxins and metal toxicity, including mercury. (Foster, JS. Kane PC, Speight N. The Detoxx Book.
2002;90)
- Prevents hearing loss from noise pollution
- Detoxifies many well-known carcinogens
7) Immunology
- Natural antibiotic
- Anti-viral for AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, etc. – Low glutathione levels in HIV clients may contribute to their immune deficiency
since glutathione plays an important role in the function of lymphocytes. Some lymphocytes require adequate levels
of glutathione in order to function normally, and HIV induces
oxidative stress that depletes the cells of glutathione. Townsend DM, Tew KD, Tapero H.The Importance of Glutathione in
Human Disease. Biomed Pharmacother. 2003 May-June;57(3-4):145-55. Droge W, Holm E. Role of Cysteine and Glutathione
in HIV Infection and other Diseases Associated with
Muscle Wasting and Immunological Dysfunction. FASEB J, 11(13):1077-89 1997 Nov.
- Lyme Disease – Lyme disease is a seriously complex multi-system acidic inflammatory condition that is triggered by bacterial
exotoxins. Glutathione helps to remove exotoxic and/or mycotoxic acids by forming a soluble compound with them,
which can then be excreted through the urine or gut. (Can Glutathione Help Lyme Disease Suffers? Excerpt from: The
Glutathione Report: Opitmal Health with the Master Antioxidant, Issue 4, Volume 1, May 2004).

- Chronic fatigue syndrome – An article in the journal of Medical Hypothesis proposed that glutathione, an anitoxidant essential
for lymphocyte function, may be depleted in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. Glutathione is needed for both
the immune system and for aerobic muscular contraction. The authors
proposed that glutathione depletion by an activated immune system also causes the muscular fatigue and myalgia associated
with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Bounous et al. 1999).
Metabolic
- Athletic enhancement
- Decreases recovery time from physical stress
- Supports hemoglobin in kidney failure
- Diabetes – The blood and tissues of diabetics are marked by critically low glutathione levels. Glutathione depletion may
have adverse consequences in diabetic clients independent of glycemic control, and it may weaken the defense against
oxidative stress. De Mattia G, Bravi MC, Laurenti O, Cassone-Faldetta M, Armiento A, Ferri C, Falsano F. Influence of
Reduced Glutathione Infusion on Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Metabolism.
1998 Aug;47(8):433-8. Glutathione provides the body with tools to fight off these threats naturally. Healthy people
also benefit from elevated glutathione levels through an enhanced ability to fight off acidic toxins, disease, precancerous
cells and the aging process itself. Diminished
glutathione levels are a symptom of aging and are particularly evident in such aliments as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s
disease. > Glutathione is also important to physically active people. Many world-class athletes are discovering
that well-maintained glutathione levels gives them the edge over their competitors, bringing greater strength and endurance,
decreased recovery time from injury, less muscle pain and fatigue, and muscle-promoting activity.
Putting It All Together
1) Medical science is still ascertaining all the critical roles played by glutathione in disease resistance and general good
health. Clinical evidence links low glutathione levels to the most common illnesses of our time as well as newly emerging
diseases.
2) As an essential aid to health, glutathione works as the master antioxidant in our body, optimizes the white blood cells
and detoxifies a long list of pollutants and carcinogens or acids.
3) Pharmaceutical medicine has created drugs that do this very effectively. They have their uses in critical situations. But
they also have side effects and repeated use is clearly inadvisable.
References:
Aging – It is well known that aging is accompanied by a preciptous fall in gluathione levels. Lower glutathione levels are
implicated in many diseases associated with aging including cataracts, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, atherosclerosis and
others. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 47:1021-26, 1994.
Antioxidant Functions – Antioxidants are well documented and known to play vital roles in health maintenance and
disease prevention. Glutathione is your cell’s own major antioxidant. Maintaining elevated glutathione levels aids the
body’s natural antioxidant function. Biochemical Pahrmacology 47: 2114-2123, 1994.
Neurological Disease – Low glutathione levels have been associated with nuero-degenerative diseases such as MS (Multiple
Sclerosis), ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The Lancet 344: 796-798, 1994.
Cancer – Glutathione plays a role in eliminating many carcinogens/acids and also maintains and optimizes white blood cell
function while providing stronger anti-acidic/anti-tumor defenses. Cancer Letters 57: 91-94, 1991.
Athletic Performance – Raised glutathione levels help increase strength and endurance. Those interested in physical fitness
can benefit from a definite athletic edge. Journal of Applied Physiology 87: 1381-1385, 1999.
Toxins, Pollution and Radiation – Glutathione detoxifies a variety of pollutants, carcinogens and poisons including many
found in fuel exhaust and cigarette smoke. It also retards damage from radiation exposure due to the eroding ozone
layer. Annual Reviews of Biochemistry 52: 711-760, 1983.

AIDS - Glutathione levels correspond to poor survival of AIDS patients. Much documentation demonstrates the role of enhanced
glutathione levels in AIDS. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 94: 1967-72, 1997.
Heart Disease, Stroke and Cholesterol – Raised glutathione levels fight the oxdiation of fats circulating in the bloodstream
including cholesterol, retarding the process of plaque formation in the arteries leading to most heart attacks and
strokes. Nutrition Reviews 54: 1-30, 1996.
Diabetes – Diabetics are more prone to ‘out-fections’ and circulatory problems leading to heart disease, kidney failure and
blindness. Glutathione protects against the complications of diabetes. Clinical Science 91:575-582, 1996.
Lung Disease – Doctors have used glutathione-promoting drugs to treat many lung diseases including asthma, chronic
bronchitis and emphasema. New and potentially therapeutic roles can be found for cigarette smoke damage, pulmonary
fibrosis and other illnesses. American Journal of Medical Science 307:119-127, 1994.
Digestive Disorders – Glutathione protects the body from inflammation of gastritis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis and inflammatory
bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Gut 42: 485-492, 1998.
Hepatitis – The liver is a major storehouse for glutathione. Glutathione is impaired in alcohol hepatitis as well as in viral
(acidic) hepatitis including hepatitis A, B, and C. Raised glutathione levels help restore liver function. American Journal of
gastroenterology 91: 2569-2573, 1996.
Kidney Dis-Ease – Those with kidney failure or on dialysis suffer from high levels of oxidative (acidic) stress and decreased
glutathione levels. Raised glutathione levels help prevent anemia. Nephron 61: 404-408, 1992.
Pregnancy, Lactation and Childbirth – Glutathione’s role in fetal and placental develoment is critical. It also acts in the placenta
to detoxify pollutants before they can reach the developing child. Many complications of pregnancy have
been linked with poor glutathione levels. Early Human Development 37: 167-174, 1994.