Raising glutathione levels

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Raising glutathione levels -

Vitamin C, Glutathione, NAC and B2

Glutathione (GSH) levels in blood plasma have been shown to be

increased through supplementation with vitamin C and glutathione

precursor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC).

Researchers, studying a 45-month-old girl with an inherited

glutathione synthesis deficiency, observed that dosages of vitamin C

of 3000mg/day increased white blood cell GSH fourfold and plasma GSH

levels eightfold.

NAC supplementation at 800mg/day also increased white blood cell GSH

by 350% and plasma levels by 200-500%.

Based on the improvements seen over a two week period, researchers

decided to administer 3000mg of vitamin C for a period of one year.

Glutathione levels remained elevated, the hematocrit increased form a

baseline of 25.4% to 32.6%, and the number of immature red blood

cells decreased from 11% to 4%.

These results indicate that vitamin C can decrease cellular damage in

patients with hereditary glutathione deficiency.71

The results of the efficacy of vitamin C in improving GSH levels in

this study were supported by a previous double-blind study by CJ

, et al..

They reported that by supplementing vitamin C at a rate of 500mg per

day, in healthy individuals, the average blood cell glutathione

concentration increased nearly 50%.

A further 5% increase was achieved by increasing vitamin C to

2000mg/day.72

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) supplementation has also been shown to

significantly improve glutathione levels. Riboflavin is involved in

the regeneration of glutathione.73

These studies suggest roles for vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine and

riboflavin in reducing oxidative damage in asthma patients due to

glutathione deficiency.

Further, since these nutrients play a role in glutathione production

enhancement, it is suggested that they also play a primary role in

Th1/Th2 balance. (see Th1/Th2 Balance in Asthma)

http://www.asthmaworld.org/SeGluPer.htm

Alana