Glutathione, Liver Health, Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Health

Hepatitis C is characterized by decreased mitochondrialGlutathione and increased mitochondrial susceptibility to free radicals.

Furthermore, Glutathione deficiency is common in liver cirrhosis patients and hepatitis patients.

Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Health New findings suggest that cystic fibrosis mutations lead to Glutathione deficiency in the epithelial lining fluid of the lung and in immune system cells and the gastrointestinal tract.

This deficiency increases over time as the higher-than-normal oxidant burden of cystic fibrosis leads to successively larger glutathione decrements without the normal opportunity to fully recover physiologic levels.

This Glutathione deficiency may be the trigger for initial depletion of other antioxidants and may also initiate the excessive inflammation found in cystic fibrosis. According to the researchers, “In a way, cystic fibrosis may be thought of as the first identified disease with Glutathione system dysfunction.” Researchers have notedGlutathionedepletion in lung epithelial lining fluid in other respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. The study authors concluded, “Therapies to augment Glutathione may also be contemplated in these diseases.” By Priya F. Shah

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