I've just had a vitamin/mineral/fatty acid etc analysis done to see where everything's at! Everything seems to be improving from last time (2-3 months ago) bu my cysteine levels and glutathione levels were very very low (cysteine was non detectable and gluthathione was 200 with the norm starting at 700).

I've tried to find information on what foods (or even supplements?) might benefit glutathione and cysteine levels but haven't come up with much. My internist said he needs to research this because he doesn't actually know what it means or what we can do about it. He'll get back to me sometime next week so I thought I'd ask here in the meantime and see if anyone has any kind of experience with this or knowledge about it!

Hope everyone is doing ok!

Ziggy

Well, the two things that come to my mind are,

1) n-acetyl cysteine--- NAC

2) l-glutamine

Both of these are precursors to glutathione synthesis.

L-glutamine is absorbed quite a bit into the lining of the GI tract, so some will not get into the circulation. There is a high need for it there in the GI area.

Both of these are pretty innocuous and the only side effect I know of for NAC is GI upset, gas and/or some diarrhea in high doses.

You can look these up separately for further info, on dosing etc.

I am glad you are seeing some improvements, and it can be a long road back. I am here every day if you need any more help.

Also....vitamin C can help that. A buffered acsorbic acid form is easy on the tummy.

Hi Mrs D!

Thank you so very much for your reply and the info!

L-glutamine is in my whey protein shake (1000 mg of it per scoop) but I ordered N-acetyl-cysteine today! Those glutathione levels don't stand a chance now!!

A long way back indeed, how very right you are about that...!

I hope you're doing well!

Ziggy

Hi Marlene,

Thanks for the reply!

I didn't know that about vitamin C; my multivitamin has 120 mg of vitamin C in it, but maybe I need more...?!

Will start with n-acetyl-cysteine and build up from there methinks!

Ziggy

Mrs. D,

Hello again! I was wondering if I could ask for your help once more...

I just got a new multivitamin (not sure if I'm allowed to name the brand here), for no other reason than I ran out of pills and the brand I usually get was temporarily out of stock, and noticed the new multivitamin has 150 IU of vitamin E per tablet (and says the serving size is two tablets, so that would be 300 IU vitamin E per day)...

My very limited knowledge has me wondering whether that's a lot of vitamin e to take each day. To be fair I can't figure out what the safe limit is per day for vitamin e per day (I did read a few articles on the 400 IU controversy but...) or if the fact that it's in a mulitivitamin decreases its potency a little somehow?

Confused!

Ziggy

Ps. I hope this finds you well!

The Vit E "controversy" was just that. General consensus I have seen by the experts is that the meta analysis of old studies, did not have the controls we have today.

300IU of Vit E is not too much IMO.

To read more:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/ss05/vitaminsce.html

Check out their monograph for Vit E while you are there too!

Mrs D,

Thanks so much for the reply and the info!

That monograph was incredibly enlightening!! I spent a good couple of hours on that site today, after reading the vitamin e info, reading up on vitamins and nutrients!

So starting the new multivitamin today and the NAC tomorrow! Onwards and upwards as they say!!

Hope you're doing well!

Ziggy

As you age, your body produces less Glutathione, and other things, such as SOD, CAT and others... so yes, your likely deficient.

However, if you take a supplement that 'includes' Glutathione, it won't work, your stomach will not let you absorb Glutathione directly. Glutathione is produced in the cells, and requires a chemical mechanism to release it out side the cell.

There are two good supplements that claim to increase the body's production of Glutathione. One is Max GXL that claims 266% by giving the body the materials to build Glutathione. The other is Protandim claming 300% by stimulating the Nrf2 pathway, that regulates Glutathione production.

Do some research on these, and look for peer reviewed and published science, not just ingredients. PubMed.gov is a great resource to research supplements for this.

Hi Lundgren and thanks for the reply!

To be honest I think my glutathione deficiency has more to do with malabsorption and chronic illness versus age (plus I'm 25 years old so...).

I'm not that sure about MAX GXL and Protandim... They seem to be very expensive products without a lot of science (excluding the studies conducted by the companies making the supplements of course) to back them up....

On a different note I have been taking my NAC and new multivitamin for about 10 days without any side-effects or problems of any kind, so I think I shall stick to that for now and re-test levels in 3-6 months..! Also waiting on a fatty acid analysis this week, so that should be fun! Baby steps (in the right direction!) as they say...

Ziggy