How Does Glutathione Detoxification Work?
Much of the body’s ability to break down and dispose of chemical toxins is dependent on enzyme detoxification processes that occur in the liver. Excessive exposure to environmental toxins taxes these functions and may make the body more susceptible to certain diseases. For example, chemicals can do extensive damage by oxidizing fats (called lipid peroxidation) in cell membranes. Glutathione is the cofactor of important enzymes that detoxify many hazardous chemicals by binding to the intermediate chemical breakdown products and making them water-soluble for excretion.
What Evidence Supports its Use?
In one animal study, glutathione regressed aflatoxin-induced liver cancers while significantly enhancing survival. Rats given glutathione had an 81 percent survival rate. All rats exposed to aflatoxin but not given glutathione died within 24 hours. In human cancers, glutathione has been utilized in a secondary role to prevent kidney and nerve toxicity from the cancer drug cisplatin.
Glutathione is the principal antioxidant in the deep lung. Aerosol glutathione has been given to HIV patients to augment deficient levels of the lower respiratory tract to improve immune defenses. A glutathione deficiency has been associated with HIV, cancer and other immune disorders.
Glutathione levels decline in the lens of the eye with advancing age, particularly prior to cataract formation. In addition, research indicates that glutathione detoxifies the aqueous fluid of the inner eye, helping to maintain adequate fluid outflow among glaucoma patients.
Two other studies are also worth noting. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, injected glutathione demonstrated positive effects on sperm structure and function in infertile men. In a test tube experiment, glutathione produced significant inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication.
So, glutathione can directly effect detoxification of the liver, kidneys, lungs, eyes, and many more vital parts of the human body. The diseases glutathione can help are still being tallied, but count Parkinson’s, infertility, HIV, herpes, some cancers, glaucoma and cataracts among them.
