Re: Glutathione and Lyme disease (and mercury)

http://www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease



Detoxifying and Excreting the Toxins of Borrelia

Borrelia produce numerous toxic BLPs. These toxins are important because they trigger many harmful responses in the body including the inflammation that is damaging to healthy tissue, and cause the dysfunction of the immune system. These toxins are fat-soluble lipoproteins and are very difficult to rid the body of. The body normally detoxifies fat-soluble substances in the liver and excretes them from the bile. Unfortunately, the toxins appear to be reabsorbed from the gut and circulate back into the body.

Treatments designed to aid the body in eliminating these toxins is a very important part of a complete and comprehensive Lyme disease therapy.

Glutathione is the most important detoxifying agent in the body to get rid of undesirable toxins such as BLPs produced by borrelia. It forms a soluble compound with the toxin that can then be excreted through the urine or the gut. The liver and kidneys contain high levels of glutathione as they have the greatest exposure to toxins. The lungs are also rich in glutathione partly for the same reason. Glutathione is a small molecule found in almost every cell. It cannot enter most cells directly. Instead glutathione must be synthesized inside the cell from its three constituent amino acids: glycine, glutamate and cysteine. The rate at which glutathione can be made depends on the availability of cysteine, which is relatively scarce in foodstuffs. Furthermore, the cysteine molecule has a sulfur-containing portion which gives the whole glutathione molecule its ‘biochemical activity’, i.e. its ability to carry out its vitally important functions. Glutathione is the major antioxidant produced by the cell, protecting it from ‘free radicals’ (‘oxygen radicals’, ‘oxyradicals’). These highly reactive substances, if left unchecked, will damage or destroy key cell components (e.g. membranes, DNA) in microseconds. Oxyradicals are generated in the many thousand mitochondria located inside each cell, where nutrients like glucose are burnt using oxygen to make energy. (Mitochondria can be thought of as the batteries that provide the power for the cells to operate). High levels of oxyradicals are also generated from inflammation or immune dysfunctions such as in chronic LD.

Thus, glutathione is required in many of the intricate steps needed to carry out an immune response. For example, it is needed for the lymphocytes to multiply in order to develop a strong immune response, and for ‘killer’ lymphocytes to be able to kill undesirable cells such as cancer cells or virally infected cells. The importance of glutathione cannot be overstated. It has multiple roles as indicated and, indeed, as one examines each system or organ more closely, the necessity for glutathione becomes increasingly evident. Glutathione values decline with chronic disease and age. Higher values in older people are seen to correlate with better health, underscoring the importance of this remarkable substance for maintaining a healthy, well-functioning body.


The two dietary supplements, undenatured whey proteins and NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), are the best cost effective way to increases the production of intracellular glutathione.



The biliary system gives us a chance to trap the toxins while they are in the gut. Substances that trap fat-soluble compounds can be taken orally to do this. Care must be taken not to use these chronically because they can have side effects and reduce the absorption of healthy fat soluble vitamins and nutrients.

Chlorella

Very effective detoxifier

Stimulates the immune system

Contains growth factors that stimulate the regeneration of damaged tissues.



Chitosan: a shellfish fiber that traps lipids.

Bentonite: is a clay-like substance that attracts lipophilic compounds

Apple Pectin:


Cholestyramine (Questran or Cholistad): a prescriiption that traps lipophilic compounds. Cholestyramine can cause constipation as a side effect.

Milk Thistle: Is probably the best herb that helps the liver detoxify and excrete bile.

Exercise & Sauna: increases the production of bile and mobilizes lipids. Heat therapy is a very effective detoxifying therapy.

Scrubing skin with sponges or brushes enhances the skins ability to remove toxins.

Using fiber (psyllium) to scrub the GI tract removes dead epithelial cells that contain toxins.

NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine): The best supplement that increases the production of glutathione, which is used in detoxification.

Taurine: An amino acid that aids in detoxification by providing a good source of sulfur.


(Hadn't heard of monolaurin (Lauricidin) before- anyone ever used it?)
>>>>Lauricidin -- The monoglyceride of lauric acid is called monolaurin. The concentrated form of monolaurin has potent antibacterial properties. While nontoxic and approved as a direct food additive by the FDA, monolaurin adversely affects bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. It damages the cell membrane of pathogenic bacteria.



http://www.lauricidin.com

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Glutathione (USH)
Glutathione is an important antioxidant amino acid which protects against mercury toxicity. Glutathione is a tripeptide, made from the combination of three amino acids; L-glycine, L-glutaniic acid, and L-cysteine. Studies have shown that GSH levels are decreased during cases of mercury toxicity. It is interesting to note that GSH deficiency resulting from genetic errors mimic the acute mercury toxicity effects of Minamata disease. Without adequate OSH, mercury from the environment cannot be detoxified and eliminated.


http://www.nzhealth.net.nz/poisons/mercury2.shtml


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