Glutathione and Mood Disorders

Studies have found that mood stabilizing drug, valproate, used to treat epilepsy and bi-polar disorder, regulates expression of genes that make glutathione-S-transferase (GST).

In addition, chronic treatment with lithium, another commonly prescribed mood stabilizer used in treating manic-depression, also increased levels of GST.

These findings led researchers to conclude that glutathione S-transferase may be a novel target for mood stabilizing drugs. (7)

Alcohol Consumption and Glutathione

Alcohol abuse is known to impair memory and other brain functions and increase brain cell death. A new study in rats has shown that alchol consumption causes fewer new brain cells to form and results in greater cell death. (8)

But rats that were fed alcohol along with Ebselen - a glutathione peroxidase mimic that acts as a free radical scavenger - showed no similar reduction in brain-cell formation and no increase in cell death.

Substances that Boost Glutathione Levels and Protect Brain Cells

Taking glutathione itself as a supplement does not boost cellular glutathione levels, since it breaks down in digestive tract before it reaches cells.

However, intravenous glutathione therapy and glutathione precursors or dietary supplements are effective in boosting intracellular levels of glutathione.

Intravenous Glutathione Injections: Intravenous glutathione injections have been shown to produce amazing and rapid results, in patients with Parkinson's disease. Following even a single dosage of intravenous glutathione, many of symptoms of Parkinson's disease rapidly improve, often in as little as 15 minutes.

Glutathione Precursors: In Alzheimer's study conducted by Welsh GP, Andrew McCaddon, adding glutathione precursor, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) to a protocol that lowered homocysteine levels by simple supplementation with B12 and folate, resulted in prompt, striking, and sustained clinical improvement in nearly all patients. (9)

Cucurmin (turmeric): Studies have shown that Indian curry spice, cucurmin, has neuroprotective effects because of its ability to induce enzyme, hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), which protects neurons exposed to oxidant stress. Treatment of brain cells called astrocytes, with curcumin, increases expression of HO-1 protein as well as glutathione S-transferase. (10)

Ebselen: Ebselen is a glutathione peroxidase mimic and potent synthetic antioxidant that acts as a neuroprotective agent and an inhibitor of free-radical induced apoptosis (cell death). It can protect brain cells from neuro-toxic effects of alcohol consumption. (8)

Undenatured Whey Protein: Undenatured whey protein provides glutathione precursors, has been shown to raise intracellular glutathione levels in clinical trials, and has anecdotally been reported to improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

References: 1. Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol. 88, No. 3, 2004 513-531 2. Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol. 87, No. 6, 2003 1527-1534 3. Researchers Find Brain Cells Die Differently in Males and Females; Pediatric Academic Societies Press release; 21-Apr-2004 4. Human Molecular Genetics, 2003, Vol. 12, No. 24 3259-3267 5. The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 164, Number 1, 123-131; 5 January 2004 6. Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;53(3):254-60 7. Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol. 88, No. 6, 2004 1477-1484 8. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jun 24;100(13):7919-24. Epub 2003 Jun 05. 9. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003 Mar-Apr;11(2):246-9 10. Can Curry Protect Against Alzheimer's?; American Physiological Society (APS) Press Release; 16-Apr-2004

There are other ways to obtain your body's proteins needs with fewer fat calories. Soy protein is highest quality plant protein available. It is a great source for amino acids your body needs as well as antioxidants that help maintain healthy cells. Soy protein does not have high fat calories, and is long acting and slowly metabolized (helping you to keep feeling full). Some high-protein, low calorie drinks can help meet these protein needs as well as being an enjoyable food source.

So what happens if you don't eat enough protein? This is a very important point because many people don't even come close to meeting their daily protein requirements!

When your body doesn't get sufficient protein you can experience food cravings, fatigue, moodiness, depression, poor memory, and poor sleep. Further, you can find yourself out of shape and with excess fat. Your body may even steal protein from your muscles and organs, including heart! Over time, your metabolism may slow down and you may even be at increased risk for a variety of diseases.

The second key element of designing a healthy weight management program is to know your resting metabolic rate (RMR). This is number of calories your body burns while at rest per day. If you eat 500 calories less per day than your resting metabolic rate, you will lose about 1 pound a week. If you eat more than your RMR, and you don't exercise to burn off those excess calories, then you will gain weight.

When designing your weight management program it is generally considered unhealthy for women to consume less than 1200 calories a day and for men, 1800 per day. As a woman if your resting metabolic rate is 1700 calories or less, you will need to consider exercise as part of your weight loss regime in order to see results in first week or two.

Armed with these two pieces of information you will be able to assess many of faddish diets that abound and cut through diet-hype. Of course, there are many other aspects of healthy weight loss, but these two principles are cornerstone to building a healthy program that will enable you to sustain long term weight loss.