GLUTATHIONE

 

small protein composed of 3 amino acids called cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine, produced normally by the body in response to today’s environment such as pollution in the air we breath, water we drink, 
chemicals & pesticides in the food we eat that cause damages in our cells & system.

 

“small molecule made up of linked amino acids and anti-oxidant naturally produced in the body.  It has been widely heralded for its importance for good health and long life. Glutathione in increased dose posts a remarkable good 'side effect' such as SKIN WHITENING". 

 

“the greater the exposure to toxins, the faster the body uses up its supply glutathione.  Without the protection of Glutathione, cells die at a faster rate, making people age quicker & putting them at risk for toxin induced diseases including cancer.” (Antioxidant, Anti-aging and for Fairer Skin)

 

COMMON NAME:   GSH

CLINICAL NAME:   Glutathione

SYNONYM:           Reduced L- glutathione (note: there is no such thing as unreduced glutathione)

CHEMICAL NAME:  Gamma-L-glutamyl – L – cysteninylglycine or   L-7-glutanyl – cysteinylglycine

DEFINITION:        L-Glutathione is biologically active sulfur amino acid  tripeptide compound
consisting of:

·        L-Cysteine
·        L-Glutamic acid
·        Glycine

FOUND WHERE?

-        present in virtually in all mammalian tissue
-        mostly in liver where it detoxifies many harmful compounds to be excreted through the bile
-        red and white blood cells
-        lungs
-        intestinal tract

PRIMARY BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS:

-        to act as a non-enzymatic reducing agent to help keep cysteine thiol side chains in a reduce

         state on the surface of proteins involved in the synthesis & repair of DNA
-        helps to recycle Vit. C and Vit. E
-        blocks free radical damage
-        enhances the anti-oxidant activity of Vit. C
-        facilitates the transport of amino acids
-        plays a critical role in the detoxification of harmful compounds
-        is the base material for several other key antioxidant enzyme systems such as glutathione-

         peroxidase, glutathione-reductase and glutathione-transferase
-        Body  (AID)       A  - ntioxidant         I   - mmune booster        D  - etoxifier

 

THEREFORE, declines in glutathione concentrations in intracellular fluids correlate directly with indicators of aging.

DIETARY SOURCES:

Glutathione is derived from L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid and Glycine and is not consumed directly as a food constituent.

 

DEFICIENCY OF GLUTATHIONE CAUSES:

-        coordination problems
-        generalized cell damage
-        mental disorders
-        various nervous system disorders
-        tremors and twitching
-        red cells are prone to burst
-        whit blood cells decline in function
-        nerve tissue degenerates

DEFICIENCY OF INTRACELLULAR GLUTATHIONE has been associated with a variety of conditions including

-        AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
-        Alcohol induced liver diseases
-        Some forms of cancer

PROVEN THERAPEUTIC USES:

-        antioxidant action
-        cancer
-        cataracts
-        liver diseases
-        muscular degeneration

MECHANISM OF ACTION:

-        support of antioxidant processes
-        modify the normal pigmentation pathway from eumelanin to pheomelanin

MAINTENANCE DOSE:

• As antioxidant and as anti-aging dose: 10mg per kilogram bodyweight per day

• As skin whitener: 20-40mg per kilo bodyweight per day  in 2-3 divided doses.

Note: Best taken with preferably  30 minutes before meals or 1 hour after meals.
May be taken together with other antioxidants such as Vit C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grapeseed Oil Extracts 1,000 mg, Vit E and Vit A to prevent glutathione oxidation and regenerate oxidized glutathione.

 

SIDE-EFFECTS:

Generally considered to be free of side-effects.
No untoward side-effects nor interactions with oral administration reported even in prolonged use.

Very SAFE. Lucida is classified as food not a herbal or drugs.
Made from genetically synthesized molecules.

The only reported side- effect is SKIN WHITENING when taken in increased doses.

TOXICITY:

No toxicities have been reported or suspected as being associated with glutathione.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

None known, except for use during some forms of chemotherapy and radiation where
antioxidants are contraindicated due to their inhibition of the free radical formation which is an
integral part of the therapeutic mechanism.

INTERACTIONS:

Nutrient affected drug  – Cisplatin (Anti Chemotherapeutic agent) and Haloperidol (anti-psychotic drug).

WHO NEEDS GLUTATHIONE:

- smokers
- 30 years old is a must
- alcoholic drinkers
- with low immune system (recovering from sickness and operations)
- with liver problems (fatty liver, hepa A, B and C)
- with thyroid problems
- has history of cataract problems
- with low quality and low sperm counts
- with cancer (prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer)
- post partum patients (mothers who just gave birth)
- on chemotherapy recovery
- exposed to chemicals / pesticides
- who consumes fish oils & VCO

 

LOW GLUTATHIONE LEVELS ARE FOUND IN:

- Aging population
- Immunocompromised individuals
- With atherosclerosis
- Male infertility
- Pregnancy complications
- Hyperthyrodism
- Liver problems
- Cataracts
- Cancer
- Alzheimers, Parkinsons, M.S.
- Results of oxidative stress due to diseases, drugs pollution, radiation and smoking

IS IT SAFE IN THE LIVER?

“ The higher GSH content, the greater the liver’s capacity to detoxify harmful chemicals.”

“ When exposed to chemicals which damages the liver, concentration of GSH decreases.”

“ Reduction in GSH makes liver susceptible to damage.”

                                                 - Dr. Murray’s Newsletter 7/2003

 

“ A small study in 8 patients of LIVER CANCER using oral GSH showed modest benefits when
given daily amounts of 500mg GSH.”

                                                 - Dalhoff, Ranek, et. Al., 1992

 

Can a person taking contraceptive pills take Lucida?

Yes. Lucida-DS is classifies as food and will not interfere with contraceptive pills.

IS IT SAFE  TO THOSE PERSONS WITH  THYROID  PROBLEMS?

YES.

“…both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with enhanced oxidative stress
involving antioxidants.”

                                                   - Reschu, Helsel, et. Al. November, 2002

 

“…has a direct relationship with free radical formation and inverse relationship with levels of
erythrocute glutathione and glutathione peroxidase in human subjects.”

                                    - Turkish Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Feb.,2001

 

Is it Safe for Pregnant Women?

Glutathione is generally safe since it is classified as processed food. There have been no
specific data established yet.  But there are reports that clinicians use glutathione for better
fetus development because it is an anti-oxidant.

​

“Glutathione status plays an important role in the development of fetus because it controls cell
differentation, proliferation and cell death.

​

Placenta has a significant amount of G-S transferase which is capable of detoxification.
Supplementation can decrease the incidence of birth defects and protect the fetus from
damage.”

                                      - The Glutathione Report, Priya Shah, April 2004

GLUTATHIONE AND HEART/ NEUROLOGIC DISEASES/ DIABETIC MELLITUS

“CATALASE AND GSH Peroxidase were shown to potently decrease neurotoxity”

                                      - Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol. 87, Nov. 6, 2003, 1527-34

 

“Low levels of Glutathione Peroxidase activity in erythrocytes is associated with an increased
risk of Cardiovascular events in patients with coronary diseases.”

                                      - New England Journal of Medicine, 2003

 

DM & HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

- associated with INCREASED FREE RADICAL DEPENDENT OXIDATIVE TISSUE DAMAGE                                                       - Barbagallo, et al.,

WHAT IS THE DOSAGE?        

Dosage computation as ANTIOXIDANT/ ANTI-AGING:

10 mg/kg/day

Ex.  50kg male

50kg body weight  x 10mg = 500 mg/day

 

Dosage computation for SKIN WHITENING (double increased dose)  LUCIDA -DS

20-40 mg/kg/day

Ex.  50 kg female

50kg body wt x 30mg (median of 20 & 40) = 1500mg/ day in 3 divided doses

 

Duration of Intake for skin whitening -  LUCIDA-DS

Medium brown skin: 1-3 months
Dark brown skin: 3-6 months
Very brown skin: 6-12 months
Black skin: 2 years

Upon reaching desired skin color, maintenance dose of once a day.

 

IMPORTANT:
Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C, Selenium, Grapeseed and other antioxidants should be taken together with glutathione supplements.

Why? GSH once it passes the stomach is oxidized and it needs a very powerful antioxidants  to regenerate this oxidized glutathione called glutathione disulfied (GSSG) into reduced glutathione (GSH).

Note: Taking glutathione alone is not effective. There must be a network of antiodixants working all together..
 

 

What the Experts Say about Glutathione:

“…that everyone should take antioxidant supplements and recommends Glutathione, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grapeseed oil extracts, Vitamin C, Selenium, Vitamin E and Vitamin A per day as a part of that regimen”

                             - Dr. Anthony Verlangieri, Director of the Atherosclerosis, Reseach Laboratory

                               and Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology ot the Univ. of Mississippi

                               states.

GSH (as in Lucida-DS) is one of the 14 “Superfoods” listed in SuperFoods Rx : Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, co-authored by Dr. Steven Pratt, an authority on food and ageing.

 

“Without GSH (as in Lucida-DS) , other important antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C and E cannot do their job adequately to protect your body against disease”

                            - Allan Somersall, Ph.D., M.D., and Gustavo Bounous, M.D. FRCS(c)

                              in Breakthrough in Cell Defense.

 

“Blood GSH levels rose nearly 50% in healthy individuals taking 500mg of Vit. C because it
raises Glutathione by helping the body manufacture it and at the same time prevent GSH from being oxidized.”

                            - Dr. Murray’s 7/30/2003

 

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID  

Recommended dose: 50mg- 500/day

·        The only antioxidant that can boost the level of GSH

                    - Life Extension Foundation, Dec. 1999

·        Alpha Lipoic Acid also helps increase GSH levels.

                    - Dr. Murray’s  Newsletter 7/30/2003

·        Antioxidant that prevents free radical damage, protects our liver, slows aging.

·        Not only protect nerves but regenerates it. Has the ability to serve as a continuous

         supplier of cysteine.

 

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

 

1. ANTIOXIDANT- compound that halts oxidative stress by donating its  electrons to neutralize free radicals before they can cause damage.

 

2. OXIDATIVE STRESS- a damaging condition that occurs when there are too  many free
radicals and not enough antioxidants to neutralize them.

 

3. FREE RADICAL- a molecule or molecule fragment with an unpaired electron produced by the
body and pollutants that causes damage to the body.