Clinical Entities with Low Levels of Glutathione

There are a number of clinical conditions associated with low glutathione levels in blood and in affected tissues. Studies reveal that repletion with glutathione may be beneficial in at least decreasing or ameliorating the progress of the disease. Viral diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS are good examples of conditions where glutathione may play a role by affecting viral levels.

Researchers at Stanford University have shown that restoring glutathione levels will diminish HIV replication. Clinically, HIV+ individuals whose bodies were repleted with glutathione were shown to survive longer than those HIV+ subjects whose glutathione levels remained low. In chronic hepatitis C, administration of glutathione is associated with a decrease in the viral load and an improvement of the patient’s liver tests, the serum transaminases. Indeed, the so-called interferon resistance to therapy in hepatitis C may be due to depletion of glutathione. Thione is initiating clinical studies with the Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale) and the University of Massachusetts to prove the beneficial effect of its synergistic technology in these diseases.

Recent studies link free radical damage to certain areas of the brain as a potential cause of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Many of these patients have been shown to have low glutathione levels and supplementation with glutathione and its synergistic antioxidant partners may stop the clinical progression of these diseases. Likewise, macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in adults, may be caused by free radicals from ultra-violet radiation to the retinal pigment cells. Glutathione levels in these individuals have also been demonstrated to be low. It is vital for those with macular degeneration to be protected by sunglasses from high UV exposure and to consume not only fruits and vegetables for their dietary antioxidant content, but to also supplement their diet with nutritional supplements. Clinical studies will be required to prove these tenets, but at least today, based on the most recent studies, we can and should initiate preventive measures using glutathione-based antioxidant therapy.

Also See:

» The Aging Process
» The Skin and Its Antioxidant Defense System

» return to Thione Science