Cell protection - detoxification - prevention: The health significance of glutathione

Glutathione is an indispensable component of the body's own redox and detoxification systems for breaking down radicals and other chemical pollutants. This textbook shows the current state of science and the study situation as well as the possibilities for the use of glutathione and its precursors in medical everyday life. On the one hand, it serves as a source for the understanding of the diverse effects of this substance and as an argumentation aid against unobjective criticism and, on the other, as an indispensable tool for the successful use of glutathione in clinical practice.

Inhalt

1. Basic idea of orthomolecular nutrition 10 1.1. Importance of nutrition and micronutrients 10 1.2. What is orthomolecular medicine? 10 2. Glutathione basics 12 2.1. Biochemistry of glutathione 12 2.1.1. Composition and formation of glutathione 12 2.1.2. Glutathione metabolism (synthesis, regeneration and degradation) 13 2.1.3. Supply, stock and distribution of glutathione 16 2.1.4. Absorption and availability of glutathione 17 2.2. Physiology and biological functions of glutathione 23 2.2.1. Antioxidative effect of glutathione 23 2.2.1.1. Basics on oxidation and reduction 23 2.2.1.2. Role of glutathione 24 2.2.1.3. Antioxidant network around glutathione, redox potential and electrochemical potential of the cell 25 2.2.1.4. Glutathione and ferroptosis 29 2.2.2. Detoxication 30 2.2.3. Immune system and inflammation 31 2.2.4. Storage of cysteine 32 2.2.5. Maintaining the thiol status 32 2.2.6. Energy balance 33 2.2.7. Modulation of cellular processes 34 2.2.8. Extended effects of glutathione 34 2.2.9. Role of glutathione in the flora 34 2.2.10. Networking of functional circuits 35 3. Targeted application of glutathione in functional nutritional medicine 40 3.1. General medical benefit of glutathione 40 3.2. Indications in healthy persons and in persons with risc factors 41 3.2.1. Prevention of health problems and chronic diseases 41 3.2.2. Avoidance of damage by pollutants and everyday drugs 43 3.2.3. Aging 43 3.2.4. Sports 44 3.2.5. Men's medical care 45 3.2.6. Iatrogenic measures 45 3.3. Indications in case of disease 47 3.3.1. Immune system 47 3.3.2. Cardiovascular diseases 48 3.3.3. Cancer 50 3.3.3.1. Topic tumor prevention 52 3.3.3.2. Topic supporting cancer therapy 52 3.3.3.3. Comments on glutathione supplementation in cancer therapy 53 3.3.4. Neurological and neurodegenerative diseases 54 3.3.5. Mental stress and multifunctional diseases 57 3.3.6. Metabolic disorders 59 3.3.6.1. Diabetes mellitus 59 3.3.6.2. Obesity 61 3.3.7. Diseases of liver and pancreas 62 3.3.8. Eyes 63 3.3.9. Diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract 64 3.3.10. Traumatology and surgery 65 3.3.11. Dental diseases 65 3.3.12. Other diseases 66 4. Practical concepts for glutathione application in everyday life 78 4.1. Glutathione diagnostics 78 4.2. Promotion of glutathione status 79 4.3. Oral administration of glutathione 80 4.3.1. Oral administration of glutathione from foods 81 4.3.2. Oral administration of glutathione from preparations 81 4.3.3. Calculations of the efficiency of promoting glutathione by direct administration of glutathione or by promoting cysteine or acetylcysteine supplementation 83 4.4. Parenteral administration of glutathione 84 4.5. Side effects of glutathione 85 5. Legal principles 88 5.1. Conceptual delimitation food drug 88 5.2. General food law assessment 88 5.3. The novel food question 88 5.4. Special dietary evaluation 88 6. Conclusion 91 7. Further references 92 8. Abbreviations 93 Index 95