Glutathione

Recent statistics have good news for us. Centenarians are the fastest growing age group in America. What’s the secret to a long and healthy life? And, what can you do right now to ensure you will one day take your place in the ranks of vibrant 100 year olds?

The answer can very well be found in the presence of a small but potent molecule made in every cell of your body called glutathione. While glutathione may not have the same notoriety as other more high profile nutrients such as vitamins C and E, it certainly is a miracle molecule.

Glutathione levels of 41 centenarians between the ages of 100-105 years old were compared with people between 60-79 years old. They found that the mean glutathione activity was significantly higher in centenarians than in the group of younger elderly subjects, and that centenarians with the best functional capacity tended to have the highest glutathione activity.

The study concluded that high glutathione levels are associated with increased survival. In a later study, glutathione levels were evaluated in 87 women in excellent physical and mental health ranging in age form 60-103. The scientist found that all women had very high blood glutathione levels. They followed these women for five years, and concluded “high blood glutathione concentrations….are characteristic of long-lived women.

The life-Extending Master Antioxidant Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide molecule composed of three amino acids: glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. It is one of the main non-protein antioxidants that exists within each cell, and has been referred to as the body’s “master antioxidant.” It rules the body’s cells and is abundant in cytoplasm, nuclei and the mitochondria.

Although discovered in 1888, the initial research on glutathione deficiency was conducted in the 1920’s and the 1930’s and concentrated on the eye, particularly the lens. It is well
known that macular degeneration is related to low levels of glutathione. By the 1980’s, researchers realized that glutathione was a major player in all aspects of good health and
disease prevention.

Without adequate glutathione levels, each cell would eventually disintegrate from massive free radicals damage, your body would have little resistance to metabolic waste products, and your liver would be severely compromised from the eventual accumulation of toxins. Our cells would also be defenseless against the many bacteria, viruses and many of the carcinogens that pose a health threat.

For the past three decades, researchers have been investigating the role of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health as well as for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-induced diseases.

While the better known antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium must be obtained from the diet. Glutathione, however, is considered the master antioxidant because all other antioxidants depend upon the presence of glutathione to function properly. For example, it is essential in regenerating oxidized forms of vitamins C and E by re-circulating them back into antioxidant function. Normally once these antioxidant vitamins scavenge free radicals, they can become oxidized themselves and attack the healthy cells. This is known as peroxidation. Glutathione easily restores them to their reduced form so they can resume the fee radical scavenging activity again.

When the glutathione systems are functioning effectively, the use of antioxidants maximizes their effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases