If you wondered if there is a substance that is vital to the health of cells, which is also a natural part of cell metabolism and can serve as a remedy against the serious damage of cellular functions - particularly brain cells – and is not part of conventional medical treatment, despite the published scientific papers that confirm all of its benefits, the answer is yes - it exists.

 

Of course, if you have invested enough effort to obtain that kind of information.

The substance in question is called glutathione: it is the main antioxidant not only found in the human body, but in all biological organisms exposed to oxidative stress and toxins, such as animals and plants.

This is a presentation of the results of my personal quest that was caused by a strong desire to help my father in his struggle with Parkinson's disease.

The information I have obtained and reactions and indifference of some specialists to whom I literally gave all the findings have led me to the conclusion that something is wrong with conventional medicine and its ethical dimension.

If something turns out to be important to the health of cells and if it has the potential to help in the treatment of a disorder, then it is logical that it should become a standard part of medical protocols.

Because, a person deserves to receive help from all available sources, especially a non-invasive ones, those that have proven harmless in terms of side effects.

Despite the discoveries regarding the importance of glutathione, it is not the case here. This sad fact is connected to the interests of pharmaceutical corporations and profit.

I hope the information contained here will help those readers who have health problems and who can be helped with glutathione.

Of course, before attempting any form of treatment, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.

Basic facts about glutathione

According to its chemical composition, glutathione is a tripeptide, i.e., a chemical compound that consists of three amino-acids.

Its chemical name is γ-L-glutamyl-L-cisteinilglicin, and its chemical formula is C10H17N3O6S.

It is widely distributed in the biosphere of our planet, in nature.

For research purposes, as a food additive or for medical purposes, it is isolated from yeast and tissues such as muscles and liver.

It plays an important role in cellular respiration in mammals as well as in plants and protects the red blood cells (erythrocytes) against hydrogen peroxide, which is a toxic by-product of many metabolic reactions.

Glutathione is one of the most important organic sulphur-containing compounds.

Amino acids found in its composition are cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid.

Glutathione takes part in many cellular biochemical processes. In order for the body to function normally, it needs a stable source of glutathione.

Although glutathione can be created in every cell of the human body, the most important synthesis of glutathione is in the liver.

Glutathione exists in the reduced state (GSH) and oxidized state (GSSG).

In healthy cells and tissue, more than 90% of total glutathione is in the reduced form (GSH), and less than 10% in disulfide form (GSSG).

Increased levels of GSSG in relation to the levels of GHS in the body is an indicator of oxidative stress to which the organism is exposed.

The role of glutathione in the body

Glutathione takes part in many cellular biochemical processes. In order for the body to function normally, it needs a stable source of glutathione.

Primarily, GSH effectively eliminates free radicals and other reactive oxygen compounds directly and indirectly through enzymatic reactions.

Research from the 2003 has shown that GSH prevents infection by the influenza virus.

GSH/GSSG redox couple is the most important in the body, a key antioxidant; it is important in the metabolism of nutrients in the regulation of pathways essential for the homeostasis of the whole body.

Glutathione deficiency contributes to oxidative stress, which may play a key role in the aging process and many diseases.

A particularly great importance of glutathione is in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Glutathione is important in elimination of harmful byproducts of metabolism, regulation of cellular processes, DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, cell growth and the response of the immune system.

In fact, its three key functions are:

 

1. it is the main antioxidant in the body which is produced by the cells; without glutathione antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E might not perform its proper role in the body; it is equally important to humans, animals and plants

2. strengthens the body's immune system

3. is the main cleanser of toxins from the body

Glutathione and plant health

Recent studies confirm that glutathione is equally important in the physiology of plants.

In tomato cells high levels of glutathione were found in relation to the presence of heavy metals.

Also, it has been shown that exposure of plants to heavy metals leads to accelerated synthesis of GSH in the roots and cultured cells.

It has been confirmed that even in plants glutathione is crucial for the defense against oxidative stress and toxins.

A content analysis of glutathione in the cells is used now as an indicator of oxidative stress in higher plants.

It has been evident that if the acclimatization of plants is too slow or too weak, photooxidative stress to which the plant is exposed gradually depletes glutathione content.

This can ultimately lead to death of the plant.

Given these findings, botanists have begun to use methods of plant treatment with increased doses of glutathione, which have yielded excellent results.

Aging and glutathione deficiency

The aging process, which takes place at the cellular level, is associated with the disruption of homeostasis of GSH.

The balance of GSH in relation to GSSG in the body is disturbed in favor of GSSG. GSH levels in plasma are reduced, while GSSG levels are rising.

A series of data obtained on the basis of clinical trials indicates that a generally better state of health, regardless of age, is related to higher levels of GSH.

Therefore, improving the levels of GSH in the body is a key component in preventing and slowing the aging process.

People with hereditary deficiency of the enzyme for the synthesis of glutathione showed a lack of GSH, with a hemolytic anemia, spinocerebellar degeneration, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, and aminoaciduria.

In the fourth decade of their lives, serious neurological complications often appear.

Low levels of GSH ratio are manifested in a hereditary form of leukemia.

Low levels of GSH in cells also increase the risk of diseases that occur due to the weakening of the immune system, such as HIV.

A relationship between the lack of GSH and a variety of pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neonatal lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and asthma has also been established.

Various neurodegenerative diseases and disorders are associated with abnormally low levels of GSH in the body.

In the case of Alzheimer's disease, a reduction of GSH levels in lymphoblast has been observed, while in the case of Parkinson's disease substantia nigra is very depleted of GSH.

GSH depletion threshold below which cells die is typically 70-80%.

Mitochondrion is particularly vulnerable in that regard. Mitochondrion failure is proved to be a key cause of Parkinson's disease.

Clinical trials have shown that the reduction of glutathione in the mitochondria leads to cell death.

Low levels of glutathione in the body are associated with dysfunction of the liver and immune system, heart disease and premature aging.

Normal GSH levels in human tissue range between 0.1 and 10 millimoles (mM).

The highest concentration is found in the liver, up to 10 mM, and in the spleen, kidneys, lenses, erythrocytes and leukocytes.

Concentration in the blood plasma is approximately 4-5 micromoles.

Oxidative stress factors that can deplete GSH are:

• UV radiation and the other (ionizing) radiations
• viral infections
• poisons in the environment
• chemicals from household
• heavy metals

GSH level decreases with surgery, inflammation, burns, septic shock, and in the absence of GSH precursors and enzyme co-factors in the food.

Parkinson's disease and glutathione

One of the known mechanisms of neuronal damage is damage caused by free radicals or molecules that are formed by oxidation of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Supstantia nigra cells use dopamine to communicate with cells in a different area of the brain, the so-called striatum.

When the cells of the substantia nigra are lost, their dopamine levels drop, which results in a decrease of dopamine in the striatum.

Typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease - a weakening of motor function in the form of muscle stiffness, jerky movements, rhythmic tremor at rest - the result of low levels of striatal dopamine.

The most important “cleanser” of free radicals in substantia nigra cells is glutathione.

Treatments with glutathione significantly eliminate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including difficulties with rigidity, walking, movement, coordination and speech. A significant reduction in tremor and a relief from depression were also observed.

There are several reasons why the treatment with glutathione is so beneficial against Parkinson's disease:

• Glutathione increases the sensitivity of the brain to dopamine. Thus, even though it does not increase the level of dopamine, dopamine in the brain becomes more efficient.

• The antioxidant activity of glutathione protects the brain from damage that can be caused by free radicals.

• It is a key component in the detoxification of brain cells. It is a well-known fact that the majority of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease have a reduced ability to eliminate chemical compounds to which brain cells are exposed to.

A practical problem in increasing glutathione levels is that taking glutathione itself as a supplement does not raise the level of cellular glutathione, since glutathione disintegrates in the gastrointestinal tract before it reaches cells.

However, intravenous glutathione therapy and taking glutathione precursors are effective in raising intracellular levels of glutathione.

It has been shown that intravenous glutathione injections provide excellent and fast results.

The work of Dr. David Perlmutter

Dr. David Perlmutter, a pioneer of glutathione therapy, developed a protocol that is used in Perlmutter’s health center for treatment of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.

It uses antioxidants and dietary supplements such as alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), pycnogenol and herbal silymarin, which increase cellular glutathione.

NAC and non-denatured whey protein supply precursors of glutathione at the cellular level, improve the production of glutathione in the body and help in the process of cleansing the body.

His pioneering work is described in the book titled “A Better Brain”.

According to Perlmutter, the standard treatment for Parkinson's disease with dopaminergic drugs only masks the symptoms and does nothing to stop the advancement of the disease. In a way, those drugs even worsen the condition of patients.

Perlmutter’s treatment not only eases the symptoms, but also slows down the process that is at the core of the disease.

As one of the main causes why an increased number of people suffer from Parkinson's disease, Perlmutter mentions increased environmental pollution, which is detrimental to the functioning of the nervous system.

He cites recent finding that brain cells of Parkinson’s patients cannot produce enough energy for normal activity. It certainly has nothing to do with mitochondrion in brain cells.

This decline in productivity of energy in cells occurs when free radicals attack healthy cells and destroy the mitochondria, the energy center of the cell membrane.

Without energy these cells cannot produce enough dopamine. As the production of dopamine is reduced, the symptoms become more severe.

The reduced ability of the liver as the main center for detoxification is also associated with the appearance of Parkinson's disease.

In 1996. Dr. Perlmutter came across the study by Italian researchers from the Department of Neurology at the University of Sassari (Italy) in which patients intravenously received glutathione for 30 days.

There seems to be a clear link between the reduction of GSH levels and the severity of the disease. Patients were given 600 mg of glutathione twice daily.

These researchers found that in all the patients tested there was a significant improvement after glutathione therapy with a 42% decline in disability. Once the therapy was stopped, therapeutic effect lasted for 2-4 months.

In this treatment no side effects were reported. Knowing that the treatment with glutathione is safe and observing that it seemed more effective than currently established therapy, Perlmutter decided to use it on his own patients.

He started with intravenous administration of glutathione in 1998. Thrilled with the results of the therapy, he called glutathione a truly miraculous remedy.

He argues that even after a single dose of glutathione "patients experience rapid improvement, often as quickly as 15 minutes after the treatment".

With this therapy he achieved significant improvements in reducing stiffness, increased mobility, improved speech, improved mood and decreased tremor.

He claims that some of his patients who had previously been in a wheelchair started walking after a few treatments with glutathione. Patients whose faces were expressionless due to Parkinson's disease laughed again.

According to Dr. Perlmutter, these patients were literally brought back to life.

Interestingly, glutathione therapy gives very good results in combination with L-dopa, allowing patients to take lower doses of the conventional medications that have been prescribed for half a century.

A new generation of glutathione

Until recently, glutathione could not have been administered orally but only by injection, because it is digested in the stomach before it reaches the bloodstream.

A recently developed technology of liposomic glutathione enables the molecules of GSH to be placed in tiny spheres of nanometer size, the so-called liposomes, which are easily absorbed by the body (the name of the preparation is Lipoceutical glutathione).

Studies on humans have shown that over 90% lipoceutical glutathione is absorbed into cells.

The recommended dose for therapeutic purposes is 1.5 teaspoons, or about 650 mg twice a day for 7-10 days.

After that, the dose may be reduced to 1 teaspoon a day (about 430 mg) or as directed by your doctor.

Data on the composition of the product containing liposomal glutathione can be found at [url=http://www.gshnow.com/lipoglut.htm]http://www.gshnow.com/lipoglut.htm[/url]

Not in the interest of the pharmaceutical industry

Due to the great success of glutathione treatment of Parkinson's disease, since 2004, as many as 1.000 physicians in the United States started prescribing this form of treatment.

Since glutathione showed such great results, a logical question arises: Why the glutathione therapy is not part of the standard (conventional) treatment of Parkinson's disease?

According to Dr. Perlmutter, there are two possible reasons. Firstly, glutathione is a natural substance, which means that it cannot be patented and cannot be exclusively possessed by any pharmaceutical company or corporation.

Thus, no one pays for articles to be published in medical journals which inform people about the benefits of these therapies.

Interested individuals must find their own way of finding out something about it.

Second, conventional medicine is not inclined to consider any treatment that does not meet its strict standards, such as the criteria of double-blind study and a placebo control, and such research requires millions of dollars of investments.

However, in the U.S.A the FDA has approved Perlmutter’s protocol for glutathione therapy.

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