Medline Article on Glutathione Depletion and CFIDS

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Med Hypotheses 1999 Oct;53(4):347-9

Competition for glutathione precursors between the immune system and the

skeletal muscle: pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bounous G, Molson J

Department of Surgery, McGill University, and Medical Research Council

of Canada.

[Medline record in process]

The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is typically associated or follows a

recognized or presumed infection. Abnormalities of both humoral and

cellular immunity have been demonstrated in a substantial proportion of

patients with CFS. The most consistent findings are of impaired

lymphocyte responses to mitogen. As an antioxidant, glutathione (GSH) is

essential for allowing the lymphocyte to express its full potential

without being hampered by oxiradical accumulation. Hence, protracted

challenge of the immunocytes may lead to cellular GSH depletion. Because

GSH is also essential to aerobic muscular contraction, an undesirable

competition for GSH precursors between the immune and muscular systems

may develop. It is conceivable that the priority of the immune system

for the survival of the host has drawn to this vital area the

ever-diminishing GSH precursors, thus depriving the skeletal muscle of

adequate GSH precursors to sustain a normal aerobic metabolism resulting

in fatigue and eventually myalgia.

PMID: 10608272, UI: 20073951