Guest guest Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 I can't figure out how to get off the list. I don't have time to keep up. Please help. Thanks - Kathy Hi, this is VAL; GSH qs? > > > > Hi, folks -- this is Hudson here. Torsten > > asked me to join your list for a short while to answer > > any questions you might have about glutathione. > > Torsten is an old and valued friend, and I am happy to > > oblige. > > > > I have been reading the digests, and this seems like > > an informed, active group! That's just what our CF > > kids need. > > > > I apologize for my inability to read every post in > > each digest -- I am one of those time-challenged moms. > > So if you would put " VAL " or " GSH " in the subject of > > your post, I will be happy to answer any questions > > about glutathione that you might have. Please > > remember that I am not an MD, and glutathione is not a > > cure for CF (though it helps many CF-ers > > tremendously), and that you should not make changes in > > your child's health care regimen without consulting > > your medical professional. > > > > Pasted below find a little Q & A sheet to give you some > > basic info. Dr. Bishop will also be presenting > > at the North American CF conference -- he will give an > > oral presentation Thursday afternoon, and will man his > > poster on Friday and Saturday. If your doctor needs > > some encouragement and information about glutathione, > > have him or her go see in Anaheim in October. > > > > Sincerely, VAL > > > > QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT GLUTATHIONE USE IN CYSTIC > > FIBROSIS > > > > Q. What is glutathione? > > A. Glutathione is a substance you body makes every > > day. The average adult will make 10 grams of it a > > day. Glutathione is what is known as a tripeptide, > > meaning that it is formed from three amino acids: > > glutamine, glycine, and cysteine. > > > > Q. What does glutathione do? > > A. Glutathione is one of the body's most important > > antioxidants. It also helps to thin mucus in the > > body, as well as regulate inflammation. It is also > > essential to proper functioning of the immune system. > > > > Q. What is the problem in cystic fibrosis that > > involves glutathione? > > A. Glutathione is made in the cells of the body. > > Most of these cells export glutathione to the space > > outside of the cells by means of the CFTR channel -- > > the very channel that is missing or defective in > > cystic fibrosis. > > > > Q. What places in the body are high in glutathione? > > A. Any space where the body is exposed to oxidants is > > bathed in high levels of glutathione. So, for > > example, the cornea, the lungs, the gastro-intestinal > > system, all have very high levels of glutathione > > outside of the cells on their surfaces. > > > > Q. Is glutathione a drug? > > A. In its oral form, glutathione is considered a > > dietary supplement which is not regulated as a drug by > > the FDA. The status of inhaled glutathione is > > uncertain. Though the substance is not a drug, > > nebulization to the lungs may constitute a type of > > delivery that would be regulated by the FDA. > > Glutathione has also been used by some CF patients as > > a nasal wash, and this use would not be regulated by > > the FDA as a drug, either. > > > > Q. Have there been trials of glutathione in CF > > patients? > > A. There have been nine trials of inhaled glutathione > > in humans suffering from respiratory problems. Three > > of those trials involved cystic fibrosis patients > > (Roum; Bishop; Griese). Dr. Bishop performed a > > double blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of > > inhaled buffered glutathione in 2002. Nineteen > > patients were involved; ten on glutathione and nine on > > placebo. The trial was also IRB approved. The > > results were very encouraging, and are under review > > for publication in a well-respected medical journal as > > of this writing. No adverse effects were noted in > > these three trials. > > > > Q. What is the rationale for using glutathione in CF? > > A. The rationale is simple: if transport problems are > > preventing extracellular spaces from receiving the > > glutathione they need, then externally supply that > > glutathione through ingestion, inhalation, or even > > nasal irrigation. > > > > Q. What about glutathione precursors? > > A. Although these will be helpful, production of > > glutathione is not the problem in cystic fibrosis. > > The problem is transport of cellularly-produced > > glutathione to the spaces outside of the cells. > > Glutathione precursors will help with increased > > production, but not with the transport difficulties. > > We believe that use of glutathione itself will be > > essential in CF treatment. > > > > Q. Is oral glutathione destroyed in the digestive > > process? > > A. We conclude that it is not on the basis of recent > > research as well as clinical improvement in the > > gastro-intestinal symptoms of CF. > > Dr. Richie of the New York Medical Center has > > told me they actually used radio-labelled glutathione > > to see whether it was cleaved in the gut or taken up > > intact. It was taken up intact. His email (though he > > apparently loathes answering emails and don't be > > surprised if he doesn't respond) is richie@... > > Here are some Pub Med-available articles/abstracts > > from researchers who have also found that GSH is taken > > up intact from the jejunum: > > Aw, T et al. " Oral glutathione increases tissue > > glutathione in rats, " Chem Biol Interact 80:89-97, > > 1991 > > Iantomasi, T. et al., " Glutathione transport system in > > human small intestine epithelial cells, " Biochim > > Biophys Acta 1330:274-283; 1997 > > Hunjan, M. et al., " Absorption of glutathione from the > > gastro-intestinal tract, " Biochim Biophys Acta, > > 815:184-88; 1985 > > Favilli, F. et al., " Effect of orally administered > > glutathione on glutathione levels in some organs of > > rats: role of specific transporters, " Br. J Nutr, > > 78:293-300, 1997 > > Hagen, T. et al., " Bioavailability of dietary > > glutathione: effect on plasma concentration, " Am, J > > Physiol. 259:G524-G529, 1990 > > Richie has explained that it was the " guru " of > > GSH studies -- Alton Meister -- who first made the > > assumption that GSH would be cleaved instead of taken > > up intact. Those who assume Meister must be correct > > often perpetuate this erroneous assumption. > > > > Q. What is the next step? > > A. The next step would be larger, multi-center trials > > of this treatment, as well as FDA approval. Both > > undertakings are complex and costly, and will take > > time and great effort. > > > > Q. In the meantime, can I use glutathione? > > A. That is really up to you and your doctor. The > > treatment is experimental, but clinical trial results > > so far are promising. Some CF doctors are using > > glutathione with their patients now. We recommend > > that your doctor be familiar with the protocol used in > > the 2002 trial ( > > http://members.tripod.com/uvicf/gsh/gshaugment.htm ) > > and communicate with Dr. Bishop at > > gshtreatment@... for more information. > > > > Q. What is the age range of CF persons that can > > benefit from glutathione use? > > A. Infants as young as two weeks old, adult patients > > well into their 40's, and every age in between have > > used glutathione. > > > > Q. What does glutathione cost? > > A. About $100 per month for an adult and about $50 or > > less per month for a child, depending on weight. Only > > pharmaceutical grade glutathione should be used for > > oral ingestion. And only buffered pharmaceutical > > grade glutathione is suitable for inhalation. One > > cannot use glutathione available, say, at the local > > health food store. > > > > Q. Will my insurance cover the cost? > > A. Not at the present. With FDA approval, that would > > change. Bev and Lois at the CF Pharmacy in Orlando > > are looking into how we could get coverage for this. > > > > Q. Are there situations in which you would not > > recommend using glutathione? > > A. Though we do not have any studies on these > > situations, theoretically speaking it would be > > worrisome to use glutathione if: > > a) you cultured B. cepacia. Glutathione reduces > > inflammation, but when culturing B. cepacia, > > inflammation may keep the bacteria in check. > > you are prone to hemoptysis or pneumothorax. > > Glutathione is a vasdilator, and if you were to bleed, > > you would bleed a larger quantity of blood than if you > > were not using glutathione. > > c) your FEV1 is less than 30% predicted. In this > > case, your lungs are very fragile, and you probably > > would not want to introduce an investigational therapy > > at this point. > > d) you have severe asthma. Severe asthma can produce > > unpredictable risks when trying a new inhalational > > therapy. > > > > Q. Where can I find more information? > > A. Here are some web-based resources for more > > information: > > > > gshtreatment@... This is how you would reach Dr. > > Bishop. > > > > http://members.tripod.com/uvicf/research/glutathione.htm > > This URL is a page of links on glutathione use in > > CF. > > > > http://members.tripod.com/uvicf/gsh/gshaugment.htm > > This is Dr. Bishop's protocol, with information on how > > to obtain pharmaceutical grade glutathione as well as > > dosing guidelines. > > > > http://members3.boardhost.com/Thankyou This is a > > message board sponsored by Risa Gans, a CF patient who > > uses glutathione. People share their experiences > > using glutathione on this board. The benefits some > > have written about include improved lung function, > > better digestion, better weight gain, lessened need > > for enzymes, more normal mucus, increased saliva, > > better stools, increased energy and stamina, and in > > some cases even eradication of bacteria. > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY > be construed as medical advice. > > PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS. > > ------------------------------------ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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