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

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

Pulmonary

Glutathione is the most efficient free radical scavenger in the airways, and dozens of studies have confirmed that free radical damage is a primary player in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (COPD) 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.

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.

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 amino-acids 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 Disease - Woltjer, R.L., Hgheim W., Maezawa I., Vaisar T, Montine K.S., Montine T.J., Role of Glutathione in Intracellular Amyloid-Alpha Recursor 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 6 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.

Digestive

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Hepatitis
• Malnutrition
• Pancratititis
• Peptic ulcer

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

Immunology

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: Optimal Health with the Master Antioxidant, Issue 4, Volume 1, May 2004).

Natural antibiotic

Chronic fatigue syndrome - An article in the journal of Medical Hypothesis proposed that glutathione, an antioxidant 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, dis-ease, pre-cancerous cells and the aging process itself. Diminished glutathione levels are a symptom of aging and are particularly evident in such alimentsas 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. The best way to raise glutathione levels is by eating foods that are high in glutathione such as avocados.
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.