Aug 26, 2009
H1N1 and Glutathione Supplements
Could a simple dietary change that increases glutathione, or indeed supplementation with this antioxidant tripeptide, be all you need to boost your immune system and ward of influenza? Several Sciencebase correspondents and hundreds of “bloggers” selling supplements seem to think so…but I am not so sure, despite the couple of limited research papers that they cite again and again in their marketing literature.
Initially, it seems, the results of a small trial published in 1997 suggested that administration of N-acetylcysteine during the winter could affect the severity of influenza symptoms, especially in elderly high-risk individuals. “N-acetylcysteine did not prevent A/H1N1 virus influenza infection but significantly reduced the incidence of clinically apparent disease,” the paper said.
N-acetylcysteine is an analog and precursor of reduced glutathione, which has been in clinical use for decades as a drug to reduce mucous. More recently, it has been proposed for use in the therapy and/or prevention of several respiratory diseases and of diseases involving oxidative stress, in general.
Evidence grew ever so slightly for a role for glutathione itself in 2000, when Emory University researchers led by Dean Jones reported that a lozenge or oral spray containing glutathione might help prevent infection with influenza. Trials in humans had not been carried out but details were reported in Free Radical Biology and Medicine and elsewhere.
Jones is more recently on record as saying that a good diet is key to getting enough glutathione, so how supplementation fits into that picture I don’t know:
Glutathione occurs naturally in many foods, and people who eat well probably have enough in their diets, says Jones, professor of biochemistry and director of nutritional health sciences at Emory University in Atlanta. Those with diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables and freshly prepared meats are most likely just fine. On the other hand, those with poor diets may get too little.
Then, in 2006, an article entitled A nutritional supplement formula for influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans put forward (again) the (same) hypothesis that this might be possible.
The 1997 and 2006 papers are now widely touted by those selling glutathione supplements to purportedly help prevent infection with H1N1 the current pandemic swine flu virus, previously they were marketing on the back of H5N1 bird flu scaremongering. However, the 2006 paper was published in the journal Medical Hypotheses and really did only suggest that glutathione supplements might be an interesting avenue of research in the face of a global flu pandemic. It did not, as far as I can see, run widescale, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials to test the hypothesis.
The researchers hinted that the compound could interfere with the virus itself or somehow modulate immune system biochemistry, or somehow inhibit the so-called cytokine storm. They said that it might, “aid humans infected with H5N1 influenza to survive with a reduced likelihood of major complications.” But, their hypothesis did home in on a single mode of action. It is thus difficult to determine whether any of those it suggests are in any way valid or simply scientific dead-ends.
A disclaimer in the paper states that, “The nutritional supplement formula described in part herein is patent-pending and has been licensed to Douglas Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as “Hi-Vidomin Nutritional Immune Multi” for sale in the healthcare practitioner market.” The authors are named as author Howard Friel who has written on emerging viruses, climate change, and globalization, and Harvey Lederman, Medical Director of the Pioneer Valley Family Practice, Northampton, MA. Why they make that disclaimer so prominent, I’m not sure.
Regardless, if glutathione is actually effective against influenza infection, and it probably isn’t, then it would presumably have to be present at the infection site – mouth and nose and upper respiratory tract. No definitive clinical trials have proven efficacy one way or the other yet.
Direct application to the oral cavity either under the tongue, as a lozenge, or as an oral spray would seem to be the only way to get glutathione to the viral entry points. A spray or lozenge has not yet been clinically proven for human use, although there are plenty of websites selling sprays nevertheless and perhaps not coincidentally offering get-rich-quick schemes at the same time.
Before you rush out to buy any expensive dietary supplements, take a close look at your diet. Is it well-balanced, rich in fruit and vegetables? If it is then you are unlikely to be deficient in glutathione.
I have written about medical opinions of echinacea and other supplements in the battle to ward off influenza elsewhere. After many years of small-scale and limited trials, the jury is still out on echinacea and glutathione specifically. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has new insights into whether or not this compound is yet another pseudo-medical scam or a genuine way to reduce flu symptoms. I strongly suspect it’s the former rather than the latter.
FRIEL, H., & LEDERMAN, H. (2006). A nutritional supplement formula for influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans☆ Medical Hypotheses, 67 (3), 578-587 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.040
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I personally know someone who was hospitalized in a medically induced coma with H1N1 and was given Immunocal in their feeding tube and he SURVIVED! The hospital said he was the only case that was that severe who was able to beat the odds. Unfortunately, there were 2 other young men in the hospital with a similar situation who did not make it.
Hi April,
What hospital? When?
Just curious.
One of the hospitals where I have worked used Immunocal. It is medicare approved but different states have different rules about its use.
Thanks.
I found the OP well reasoned and presented. I have read numerous posts with regard Glutathione, and it’s commercially produced cousins. I’ve heard, read, in this blog, from distributors, Health Care providers, etc. I have found one thing in common with all “posts” read. There appears to be a genuine desire at UNDERSTANDING. This is to be applauded. I am a neophyte to the subject of Glutathione. Here is what I have gleaned thus far. Studies exist for Glutathione. It’s been around along time. It is used for acetaminophen toxicity, and is proven effective. Used is various forms Immunocal………etc It would seem that the abundance of published articles is juxtaposed to the extravagance of the claim……..That Glutathione is an essential and powerful anti-oxidant, produced by the body and readily available through many foodstuffs is incontrovertible. Though the need for and the means of supplementation seems to avail itself to many opinions, each is reasoned and put forth in it’s context for the reader to ultimately derive what is salient. I am leaning to the belief, that if toxic levels in the body are high supplementation in conjunction with healthy diet. Might be a good start. As to efficacy in treating various forms of influenza: Well frankly this is where the literature is rather scant. Though there certainly is much information provided that is rather anecdotal in favor of Glutathione as at least having a prophylactic effectiveness I am suspect this might be a case of the “accepted literature” not keeping up.
I had to laugh when a member posted that most evidence to their argument “can be found on such and such a government website.” In my mind nothing could, “these days” dissuade me more quickly from acceptance of “a point”………”that I found it on a Government Website immediately sends up “red flags”. Am I alone in this?
I will look to supplement initially levels of Glutathione, I am 61 years old, extremely healthy, very active with work, surfing and tennis. I also prepare ALL of my meals, love to do it, and don’t stay away from anything. Though I must say I don’t do any dairy…….other than a yougurt occasionally, and now and then splurge for one of those sweet tasting Acidiophillus (sp?) Drinks. Just to snag some of that friendly bacterium. I believe in powerful Antioxidants, particularly those where there has been no demonstrable ability to take their use to “Toxic” levels.
In fact in the 80’s I used BHA and BHT…….quite extensively. This is a fat soluable substance that was principally used as a preservative for packaging, breakfast cereals, chips…etc I’ll try the spelling don’t shoot me. ByutalatedlHydroxatoulene………….Which was touted in the Book Life Extension, By dirk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, two MIT researchers, who at that time collated a tremendous amount of information in the The Theory of Free Radicals, as it was referred to at that time……………………BHT was first noticed as a powerful anti-oxidant by the military. It allowed them to prevent rubber from oxidizing and was also used to prevent their fuels from oxidizing and becoming useless in the “field”…….I heard of a study that once connected the use of this Preservative, with blindness in the sixth generation of Mice, so while I did in fact use this, along with about three grams of C a day, which I took in intervals 4 times a day, constant level serum C, : the benefit was to skin and to vascular flexibility……….or so was claimed………..
So I will close with this…I remember when anything associated with diet, herbs, supplementation was simply another form of “quackery”…….And have watched and participated as what was perceived at onetime “outlandish” and Avant Garde became common place. Therefore it is unwise to fix ones position with regard any topic which might enhance the quality of your existence here It is neither wise to be quick to Leap nor is it wise to be trapped by the Folly of not doing so. Therein lies the Rub. The Prudent Value of Balance, Knowledge, Reason, and Circumstances from and by which you Divine these intentionally nebulous constellations.
The knowledge in medicine, bio-medicine, Holistic Medicine, in 1980, and I mean the entire Library of Knowledge from Oral tradition to the written Word…….was said to double every five years. We are now near 2010 the Exponential increase of this Library, if the premise of 1980 is correct, I believe close to impossible to Capture through any media, let alone Text.
Which leads me to this point. Do not look to government Websites for anything other than the method supplied to disprove anything they might promulgate. In other words if the Government endorses a position pertaining to Health, I look in the other direction for something more akin to an unbiased truth………………Aloha Brant