Arguing for Low Glutathione Levels to be Important in the Development of Parkinson ' s Disease

Glutathione is one of the more important cellular antioxidants. Delivery of glutathione via a range of mechanisms has been tested as a way to improve function in older individuals, with intriguing results in small clinical trials. The benefits include improved mitochondrial function and reduced inflammation. Delivery of antioxidants to mitochondria, where they can suppress the production of reactive oxygen species that takes place as a side-effect of the normal operation of these organelles, has been demonstrated to improve health and modestly slow aging in animal models. Unfortunately glutathione isn't orally bioavailable; one can't just take it as a supplement. Intravenous injection works, but the most interesting of the tested delivery methods are iontophoresis patches and daily supplementation with large amounts of the gluthathione precursors glycine and N-acetylcysteine. In this context, one might take a look at today's open access paper. It is interesting to see the evidence presented for low glutathione levels to contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease. The most evident symptoms of the condition derive from cell death in the small but vital population of dopamine-generating neurons. These neurons are evidently more vulnerable to stresses, including oxidative stress deriving from mitochondrial dysfunction, than is the case for other cells in the brain. Glutathione is protective, and the less of it there is, the greater the risk of losing enough dopam...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs