Glutathione (GSH)

Jimmy Gutman MD, commenting on asthma in his new book 'GSH, Your Body's Most Powerful Protector', states:

"Bronchial asthma causes constriction of the bronchioles (airway passages)."

"Asthma is always unpleasant an sometimes even fatal. The intensity of asthma attacks vary, but all are characterized by a feeling of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, restlessness, coughing and wheezing."

"Asthma is variable in frequency and severity and can be triggered by a very wide variety of stimuli, including allergens (things that provoke an allergic response). These include dust, pollen, dander (tiny particles of animal skin, fur and feather), certain foods and drugs, viral infections, emotional stress, anxiety and even plain old exercise."

"Muscles within the walls of the bronchioles flex and go into spasm, the walls thicken, air passages become clogged by mucous, and air is trapped in the deepest airways (the aveoli).

"Although asthma is reversible and intermittent, it tends to recur and is generally considered a chronic condition."

"Asthma sufferers should make an effort to identify and avoid the triggers that cause their attacks, whether allergic, infectious, toxic or emotional."

The Role of GSH in Asthma

It has been long thought that low levels of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase levels play a role in the onset and progression of asthma.

Numerous studies in asthmatics have identified such abnormalities in the red-blood GSH, white-blood cell GSH, serum GSH, platelet GSH and lung-fluid GSH.

There is a direct correspondence between low glutathione levels and the severity of the asthma attack.

A recent presentation to the American Lung Association by pulmonologist Dr. Carol Trenga described an antioxidant cocktail that helped asthmatics who were particularly sensitive to air pollutants.

European physicians have long used GSH precursors in the treatment of asthma, particularly as a mucolytic (phlegm thinner) to break down thick secretions.

Fighting oxidative damage high GSH levels may help prevent the following complications of asthma:

• Difficulty breathing
• Increase in severity of attacks
• Pneumothorax (collection of air or gas in the space surrounding the lungs)
• Respiratory failure
• Side effects of medications

Elevated GSH levels may help by:

• providing Immune System support
• slowing the progression of the disease

Anti-Inflammatory Effect

Inflammation is in itself, an indication of a high degree of oxidative damage.

Samples of inflamed tissue show consistent evidence of severe oxidative stress, where the degree of oxidative damage has been correlated to the degree of inflammation.

Australian researcher G.D. Buffington studying inflamed tissue noted the significant depletion of Glutathione within the tissue. ²⁴

Evidence demonstrating the importance of combating oxidative stress with optimal GSH levels, for an anti-inflammatory effect throughout your body is consistent.^{2, 10}

Read about Oxidative Stress

Raising GSH Levels

Raising the level of GSH within each cell of your body is a safe method for patients with asthma to prevent the recently identified source of disease and inflammation – oxidative free radicals.

The simple act of raising and sustaining your own cellular protective forces – is destined to change the paradigm in the medical community, which it already has in scientific circles.

As the result of many decades of research focused on how to modulate the immune system – there are now several manufacturers both in the USA and Canada providing proteins, high in undenatured cysteine that are biologically similar to the cysteine found in mother's milk.

As a patient with asthma, we urge you to investigate the benefits of protecting each cell in your body – simply by adding these GSH precursors to you diet.

Fig 1: Source - FDA website

The FDA published a slide (Fig 1) showing some areas of how GSH is lowered.

It was found the decline in GSH levels begins to rapidly occur at age forty in the average population.²⁴ (see chart below)

Fig 2: Source - Cellular Health Foundation

Clinical studies have proven that immune depressed individuals have lower GSH concentrations.

The blood and tissues of people with asthma are marked by critically low GSH levels.

Research trials have revealed a correspondence between low GSH levels and higher complications.

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione (pronounced "gloota thigh own"), or GSH, a small protein, is an essential component of our immune system.

It is produced naturally by cells throughout our body, and plays a vital role in asthma as:

• A cell's most important Antioxidant
• An Immune System component
• A Detoxifying agent in our body

GSH has now been found to be the cornerstone of the body's anti-oxidant defense team. ^1,2,9,12,14

Research now demonstrates the correlation between a precipitous fall in this unique molecule – and diseases including asthma.

You've probably never heard of it because in supplement form it is useless to take.

Yet, almost half of the ‘baby boomer' generation - individuals over 50 - are deficient in this molecule, leading to greater susceptibility to all kinds of disease.²⁰

The FDA has published a list of everyday agents such as vigorous exercise, smoking, UV radiation, and coffee, which actually work to deplete this vital ‘protector' from our bodies.

Clinical studies show that if you provide your body with ‘specific building blocks', it will make a constant supply of this precious molecule for you. ^2,3,4,9,14

Critical Element Missing

Glutathione must be made, or synthesized within the cell because GSH cannot be transported into cells in a supplement or ‘pill' form. ¹

Each cell requires the three ‘building blocks' or pre-cursors to enable the process to proceed. If only two of the three building blocks are present – the building does not proceed – no matter how great the need for GSH.

Two of the three, amino acids: glutamic acid and glycine are readily available in our diet.

Sadly, it is the availability of the third amino acid, cysteine – that limits the production of GSH.

This is because cysteine, although plentiful in raw milk and fresh eggs, is ‘de-natured' in pasteurization and cooking.

In being denatured, any cysteine we receive in our diet is no longer biologically alive for the purposes of an effective ‘building block'.

We have been unable to provide an un-denatured building block to our diets.

Why aren't we replacing GSH in our diet, especially considering it's a naturally occurring protein in each cell – giving us such fundamental protective value?

Summary

Glutathione is the key protective molecule of your immune system.

For your cells to make GSH they require a regular source of natural cysteine.

The Foundation has identified several resources that are FDA recognized as food supplements to raise GSH levels. No prescriptions are necessary. Some are listed in the 2005 Physicians Desk Reference (PDR).

Click for PDR extract

One such natural supplement is now classified as a Nutraceutical and meets the criteria for Medicare / Medicaid reimbursement.

Although Medicare / Medicaid do not cover oral supplements, coverage is applicable for intravenous tube feeding in hospitals.

For 25 years hospital ER's have been injecting N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a synthetic form of cysteine, to quickly raise the GSH levels of a patient to temporarily boost the immune system.

Previous generations were not aware that our cells had such protective power.

Now, individually, we have been given the ability to give our cells the ‘building blocks' they need.

Because of the research and scientific validation, we believe raising GSH levels – both naturally and even by synthetic means - will have major positive consequences for patients with asthma.

The physician of the future will ask, “Let's take your blood pressure and check your glutathione levels”.

Its adoption as standard healthcare practice is on the horizon.

We urge you to speak to your physician about raising your GSH level – in every cell of your body.

Click here for References in the above article