L-Glutathione Can Eliminate Toxins in the Liver
L-glutathione is the reduced form of glutathione, and is a tripeptide
synthesized in the animal and plant tissues from glycine, cysteine
and glutamate. Commonly known as GSH, it contains thiol groups that
are maintained in a reduced state, and is a very powerful
antioxidant, considered to be the key antioxidant and protective
substance in the body.
Swanson Premium Brand L-Glutathione
Glutathione can reduce any disulfide groups in the cytoplasm within
the body of the cell, and ensures that the cytoplasm is a strongly
reducing medium protecting against oxidation. It has a synergistic
effect with other antioxidants to protect the body against free
radicals and oxidizing agents that cause so much damage to the body
through what is commonly referred to as 'oxidative stress'. However,
there is more to it than that and it attaches itself to toxic
chemicals and drugs in the liver and renders them into a state
suitable for elimination from the body.
These toxic materials include poisonous pesticides, hydrogen sulfide,
carbon monoxide, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and chromium
and many other substances that we come into contact with due to
present day pollution of our atmosphere and foodstuffs. Glutathione
can also help protect the body from the effects of chemotherapy and
evidence is suggesting possible links with the control of some
cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis and many other degenerative
conditions caused by free radical attack and the effects of pollutants.
The way that GSH acts in the cells is that the redox state of the
glutathione-glutathione disulfide couple is critical to the health of
the intercellular and intracellular fluid. GSH in the reduced state
of glutathione reacts with an oxidative agent such as hydrogen
peroxide to form the oxidized form, glutathione disulfide and water.
It hence mops up oxidizers such as peroxides and free radicals within
the cytoplasm of the body's cells, and also in between the cells. The
disulfide is then converted back to GSH by the combined action of the
enzyme glutathione reductase and NADPH (the reducing agent
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).
The cycle then repeats so that two molecules of glutathione continue
to reduce damaging oxidizing agents without themselves being
consumed. In so doing, the NADPH becomes oxidized. A continuous
supply of NADPH is needed to allow GSH to undergo these biochemical
reactions, and up to 10% of our blood glucose is used by the pentose
phosphate pathway by which NADPH is synthesized.
Since this cycle consumes no glutathione, it would appear that a
supplement is unnecessary. However, this is not the case since the
molecule takes part in other reactions in the body, particularly in
the elimination of toxic heavy metals from the body. Mercury is
highly reactive with the thiol that GSH is, and so will bind to form
a stable Hg-sulfydryl bond in the liver. This mercury-glutathione
chelate is unable to bind to other proteins or gain access to the
body cells, and is eventually harmlessly secreted. The same is true
of many other heavy metals that are reactive with thiol's.
In this way the body is protected from the harmful effects of these
heavy metals. However, it results in the loss of the glutathione, and
the pollution of modern day living can take a heavy toll of the GSH
content of our bodies. For this reason a glutathione supplement is
recommended, especially for city dwellers that may be exposed to more
heavy metals than those residing in rural areas.
However, the form in which this supplement is taken is very
important, because the human digestive tract contains a significant
amount of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. That is an enzyme which
apparently destroys glutathione before it can be absorbed. However,
it can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream by dissolving the
pill between the teeth and inner cheek. It has also been suggestion
that the supplement could be administered by injection.
Others have suggested that rather than administer a supplement,
individuals could take other supplements that contain the materials
needed to stimulate the formation of GSH. Substances such as vitamin
C, selenium (important in GSH biochemistry), methionine, alpha-lipoic
acid and glutamine could all help to increase the body's production
of glutathione. A supplement of the constituent parts of cysteine,
glycine and glutamic acid should also help. The dosage ranges
recommended vary widely from 50mg to 500mg daily, and the effects of
supplementation are not yet well know.
Some specific conditions that this wonder antioxidant is useful in
treating include liver disease such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and so
on. Patients suffering from these diseases show a massive reduction
in their GSH content and prior GSH treatment appeared to offer a
significant degree of protection in controlled clinical
investigations. Patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C have been
found to be associated with reduced GSH levels, particularly if also
HIV positive.
Similar deficiencies have been noted in some lung conditions such as
asthma and other pulmonary conditions. In such cases it has been
demonstrated that administration of GSH supplements sufficient to
restore normal levels of the substance improved the patients'
conditions by a significant amount. Its effect on atherosclerosis
appears to be significant since a decreased level of GSH peroxidase
has been recorded in such patients in addition to an increase in
lipid peroxides, indicating that oxidation of the arterial wall had
been occurring.
Anti-viral therapies that rely on GSH biochemistry for their action
have been found to be less effective in those with low GSH levels,
and other studies have confirmed that supplementing with GSH improves
the response to interferon treatment. These results indicate the
activity of oxidizing agents and free radicals in liver conditions,
and in fact this has been demonstrated by tests carried out in New
York and Philadelphia in the 1990s.
This suggests that the liver is prone to damage by oxidative stress,
and that GSH levels may be able to be used as an indication of
potential liver disease. What is evident is that a strong case can be
made for glutathione supplementation as protection against potential
liver, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, especially by those
exposed to specific polluting agents such as primary or secondary
tobacco smoke, auto and diesel fumes and chemicals and pesticides.
L-glutathione is useful, not only for the elimination of toxins in
the liver, but also in protecting this large and vital organ from the
oxidative stress that modern living brings. L-Glutathione and its
precursors are sold over the counter at your local or internet health
food store.
More information on Glutathione and whole body detox is available at
VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/
Hi,i am trying to cleanse my liver but no matter what i take,herbs,amino acids or any other supplement to cleanse the liver i get these very violent detox reactions or healing crisis does anybody know how do i get around this.
Posted by: Jason | February 28, 2008 at 09:28 PM