Re: Hi, this is VAL; GSH qs?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

looks like your informative message left no questions open. The

reason why I post it again is, that we have more than hundred

members, who only get the " Special Notices " , so I have to send

it " special delivery " again.

And I have a few questions. Are your kids on anything else than on

GSH? Do you think the GSH is solely/mostly responsible for the clean

cultures? What kind of bugs did your sons culture in the past?

Again thanks for joining and offering your help.

Peace

Torsten, dad of Fiona 6wcf and Sebastian newborn wocf

e-mail: torstenkrafft@...

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.

[Guest guest]

Hi Torsten!

I did not know you where old ;-)

> > 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.

Love

Caroline

torstenkrafft schrieb:

>

> Hi ,

>

> looks like your informative message left no questions open. The

> reason why I post it again is, that we have more than hundred

> members, who only get the " Special Notices " , so I have to send

> it " special delivery " again.

>

> And I have a few questions. Are your kids on anything else than on

> GSH? Do you think the GSH is solely/mostly responsible for the clean

> cultures? What kind of bugs did your sons culture in the past?

>

> Again thanks for joining and offering your help.

>

> Peace

> Torsten, dad of Fiona 6wcf and Sebastian newborn wocf

> e-mail: torstenkrafft@...

>

> 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.

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

>