CBS Evening News Highlighted "Universal or All-Purpose Drug"

Glutathione – the undiscovered “natural drug”
Patricia A.L. Kongshavn, Ph.D

A recent press release by CBS highlighted the need
for a “universal or all-purpose drug” able to combat
whatever germ or toxic chemical released by hostile
forces. In general, the idea would be to bolster the
defenses we already possess, in particular the
immune system, to fight against infections and
cancer. CBS made brief mention of two substances,
cysteine and glutathione, that deserve much greater
attention.

Glutathione is a key substance found in every cell in
our body and may be thought of as a “naturally
occurring universal drug” – and one without adverse
side effects! It is the cell’s most important
antioxidant, neutralizing “free radicals” that would
otherwise damage or destroy the cells. The body
produces free radicals during metabolism. Under any
form of stress, such as chemical toxicity or bacterial
infections, the body generates many more free
radicals. If glutathione is in short supply, these free
radicals can overwhelm the cell. Exposure to
radiation from sunlight or other sources also results
in increasing highly reactive free radicals that
likewise our bodies need to neutralize.

Glutathione is also the main detoxifying agent in the
body. It converts damaging chemical substances
(toxins) into harmless products that the body
eliminates. Such chemicals include cancer-producing
substances, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides,
smoke and other pollutants. Thus, glutathione
provides important protection against many
environmental hazards. The liver is particularly rich
in glutathione for this purpose.

The immune system is our main defense against
infection. Once again, glutathione plays a vital role,
enabling the immune system to function optimally,
which it cannot do when glutathione is deficient. For
example, the cells of the immune system
(lymphocytes) cannot multiply as much, cannot
produce as many antibodies, and cannot kill
unwanted cells like cancer cells or those infected
with a virus. Glutathione deficiency also adversely
affects other systems and organs such as the lungs,
the nervous system, and the intestinal tract.
It is on record that there are many medical disorders
associated with glutathione deficiency. These include
AIDS and cancer wasting, some intestinal disorders,
lung diseases, over-trained athletes syndrome and
trauma. Furthermore, as we age, glutathione levels
decrease which no doubt explains, in part, an older
person’s lowered resistance to disease.

Glutathione is a very small protein made inside the
cells from three amino acids obtained ultimately from
our food or supplementation. One of these amino
acids, cysteine, gives the glutathione its antioxidant
and detoxifying properties. This amino acid is
relatively rare in foodstuffs and this can lead to
glutathione deficiency, even in healthy people. For
example, one study demonstrated that, by feeding a
cysteine enriched food product, glutathione values
increased by 35.5% in the lymphocytes of normal
young adults (Lands).

It is well documented that glutathione sold as a
dietary supplement is mostly destroyed during
digestion and therefore is of little use. Cysteine itself
is toxic and suffers the same fate unless chemically
modified. Practitioners use N-acetyl cysteine as a
supplement, but it has certain unpleasant side effects,
even in moderate doses. Thus, the best source for
cysteine supplementation is from cysteine-rich
foodstuffs. It is normally present in food as the stable
form, cystine (2 molecules of cysteine linked
together). Our bodies digest, absorb and carry cystine
to the cells where they convert it into cysteine. Since
heat or mechanical stress, etc, easily split cystine into
cysteine (where digestion destroys it), raw
unprocessed foods or special food supplements high
in bioactive cysteine (cystine) provide the best source
of this vital amino acid.

Sixty years ago, Florey and Fleming revolutionized
the medical treatment of infection with the discovery
of antibiotics that act against a broad range of
bacteria. Glutathione, a “natural drug”, perhaps in the
same way could provide a significant contribution
towards defending ourselves against the growing
number of diverse biological and chemical hazards
facing our society today.