Glutathione Therapy in Parkinson's Disease
Glutathione is the brain's master antioxidant. Intravenous glutathione therapy and taking glutathione precursors have both been shown to be effective alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.
(PRWEB) February 13, 2004--Parkinson's Disease (PD), a devastating illness,
occurs in one of every 100 people over 65.
It is a slowly progressing
disease of the nervous system that results in progressive destruction of brain
cells (neurons) in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Death
occurs usually as a result of secondary complications such as infection.
One of the mechanisms known to destroy neurons is damage by free
radicals or reactive oxygen species - destructive molecules produced by
oxidation of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
The Role of
Dopamine
The cells of the substantia nigra use dopamine - a chemical
messenger between brain or nerve cells - to communicate with cells in another
region of the brain called the striatum.
When nigral cells are lost,
nigral dopamine levels fall, resulting in a decrease in striatal dopamine.
The typical symptoms of PD - motor function deficiencies characterized
by muscle rigidity, jerky movements, rhythmic resting tremors - are the result
of low levels of striatal dopamine.
Most dopaminergic drugs used to
treat PD, are aimed at temporarily replenishing or mimicking dopamine. They
improve some symptoms, but do not restore normal brain function nor halt brain
cell destruction.
Dopaminergic drugs are generally effective at first in
reducing many PD symptoms, but over time they lose their effect.
They
also cause severe side effects because they overstimulate nerve cells elsewhere
in the body and cause confusion, hallucinations, nausea and fluctuations in the
movement of limbs.
The Role of Antioxidants
When dopaminergic
neurons are lost in the course of Parkinson's disease, the metabolism of
dopamine is increased - which in turn increases the formation of highly
neurotoxic hydroxyl radicals.
The most important free radical scavenger
in the cells of the substantia nigra is the powerful brain antioxidant,
glutathione. Glutathione levels in PD patients are low.
And as we age,
levels of glutathione in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra
decreases. This appears to hasten cell death and advance the progression of PD.
At least 80 percent of the substantia nigra cells are lost before
symptoms of Parkinson's disease become apparent. This is why it becomes
essential to protect or maintain these cells under oxidative stress.
How
does Glutathione help in Parkinson's Disease?
Several factors explain why
glutathione is so beneficial in Parkinson’s disease.
1. Glutathione
increases the sensitivity of the brain to dopamine. So although glutathione
doesn't raise dopamine levels, it allows the dopamine in the brain to be more
effective.
2. Glutathione's powerful antioxidant activity protects the
brain from free radical damage.
3. An even more intriguing benefit of
glutathione lies in its powerful detoxification ability.
Its a well
known fact that most Parkinson’s patients are deficient in their ability to
detoxify chemicals to which they are exposed.
The unfortunate few who
harbor an inherited flaw in their detoxification pathways are at far greater
risk to the brain damaging effects of a wide variety of toxins.
Glutathione is one of the most important components of the liver’s
detoxification system. Glutathione therapy is one of the most effective
techniques for enhancing liver and brain detoxification.
Glutathione
treatments considerably improve some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease
including difficulties with rigidity, walking, movement, coordination and
speech. A marked reduction of tremor has been observed as well as a decrease in
depression.
Glutathione and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (a glutathione
precursor) have been shown to be very effective in protecting the nerves in the
substantia nigra from being destroyed by oxidative stress.
Glutathione
Therapy in Parkinson's Disease
The practical problem in increasing
glutathione levels is that taking glutathione itself as a supplement does not
boost cellular glutathione levels, since glutathione breaks down in the
digestive tract before it reaches the cells.
However, intravenous
glutathione therapy and taking glutathione precursors are both effective in
boosting intracellular levels of glutathione.
Intravenous Glutathione
Therapy:
Intravenous glutathione injections have been shown to have
amazing and quick results.
Dr. David Perlmutter, a pioneer in this
therapy, has developed a protocol utilized at the Perlmutter Health Center for
administering intravenous glutathione to Parkinson's patients.
Following
even a single dosage of intravenous glutathione - often in as little as 15
minutes - the ability to walk, turn around and move their arms is almost
completely restored.
Glutathione Precursors:
Dietary antioxidants
and supplements that increase cellular glutathione, such as alpha lipoic acid,
NAC, pycnogenol, the herb silymarin (milk thistle), are effective in restoring
normal function.
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and un-denatured whey protein,
like Immunocal, both supply glutathione precursors intracellularly, enhance the
body’s production of glutathione and aid the detoxification process.
Other nutritional supplements which aid the detoxification process
include selenium, vitamins E and C.
The detailed report with references
on Parkinson's Disease and Glutathione, can be found here:
http://www.1whey2health.com/parkinsons_glutathione.htm
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb104489.htm