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
Here’s my experience with Immunocal. I suffered from hay fever for 10 years. Every year the symptoms were getting worst. In the spring of 08, I started taking the product. I took it twice a day for 1 week, then once a day. Well, that spring, I did not have any reaction. Looks like my immune system really got a boost. I was so amazed by it that yes, I became a distributor.
The product has been extensively researched. Dr. Gustavo Bounos is the lead researcher. He tested it with different population including AIDS patients. And it is the only non-drug product listed in the PDR.
Regards,
Gilles
This has been interesting to watch.
Jack Kunkel Said ….”I recall a study where milk thistle, used as placebo, unexpectedly outperformed echinicia as a virus prophylactic, even while another study indicated milk thistle might not be as helpful for the liver as hoped.”
Just a FIY for the GSH junkies reading this…Milk Thistle is a glutathione potentiatior. It was the supplement of choice before MAX and Immunocal came to be. At least that is what I read in a book. The books copyright predated both. I do not remember the name but it had something to do with immune boosting. No wonder that it worked better than echinacea.
Also, NAC is a supplement. It is only considered a pharmaceutical when in the IV form. It is in the PDR in both forms.
One therapist on the web claims that the NAC you buy from a health food store worked as good as MAX did for pain relief for his wife. The difference was about $15 verses $77. You will also need 500 mg of Vitamin C and Lipoic Acid, and 200 mcg of selenium. Still it is cheaper than the $77. And is there shipping on top of that?
Or, if as stated above, you eat a well rounded diet or even eat more of the immunity boosting foods, chances are you will be healthy. Kind of a novel idea. Eat right and you will not have to take pills.
The 2oo mcg of selenium can be had from 2 Brazil nuts. We also give this to prostate patents. Generally we suggest that if they eat 2 Brazil nuts a day they will die of something other than prostate cancer. Now selenium is given by some docs for almost everything. Even in the burn unit where I have worked.
Don’t get me wrong. I am all for supplements if your fighting diseases or conditions. I just prefer to go to the medicine cabinet in my cupboard first. I think both Immunocal (which we have used in the hospital) and MAX are great products. A bit over priced though. Immunocal is great for children, tube feeding patients, and those who do not like to swallow pills. Immunocal is medicare approved ( Sorry MLMers, no MLM profits for you).
MAX is good for, well, those who cannot afford Immunocal or hate to mix their meds prior to taking them. NAC, the ingredient in MAX has a half life of only 12 hours to my knowledge. So for it to work, it would have to be taken continuously. The Immunocal form, (and I may be wrong) is in a form that allows the body to store it a bit longer. Now it can more readily do numerous jobs in addition to boosting glutathione.
As stated above, glutathione will not treat or cure everything or everyone.
When I have the signs of a sore throat, the best thing you can do is the zinc sore throat treatment cure. Have not had a sore throat for over 15 years now. When one is coming on, a zinc lozenge will knock it out. I learned about these from an orthopedic doc I was a nurse for.
For the sake of disclosure, I should say that I come from a family of farmers and have a biased leaning toward foods that come out of the ground or from on top of the ground (with legs, wings or scales) verses out of a factory.
Good health to you all.
Well, this is funny.
Lesly of course, is a Max distributor. Cellgevity was indeed recently acquired by MaxGXL. Not too hard for us all to figure out.
What is funny is that N-Acetyl Cysteine, which is in the formula she represents, is exactly what she is complaining about – it is a pharmaceutical drug. How ironic that she would attack you for the same reason.
Interestingly, Max GXL does not show up with any results on PubMed, although one of its ingredients, which can be purchased as a drugstore, NAC, is the subject of thousands of studies on its own, and has been used in emergency medicine for years for acetaminophen overdose.
Funny you don’t love pharmaceuticals yourself, Lesly, since you are cashing their check every month.
I stated from the beginning that I am an Immunotec consultant who represents Immunocal, and that my statements along with statements made by any other person who has money to gain must be viewed with skepticism.
I always encourage others to do the research. If you look through this forum, you will see links to PubMed, the FDA, and the US Patent Office for Immunocal in one of my earlier posts.
I agree – we all should do our research, and be wary of exaggerated claims. Glutathione enhancement is not a breakthrough. It has been around for over 30 years now, with Immunocal the subject now of 27 published clinical trials. You can find 11 of them by name by going to http://www.pubmed.gov and typing in Immunoca . Try the same for MaxGXL and you be the judge.
David, your original post was about immunity and glutathione. It seems we have gotten off topic. My apologies, but this comment above had to be addressed. There have been some very knowledgeable people posting on this particular thread and I have really enjoyed the comments. Let’s keep that up.
Cheers,
Laura
@Lesy I most certainly do not work for a pharmaceutical company. How dare you?
I do notice that Nagasawa apparently does though – Cellgevity Inc, is it? There are numerous websites suggesting that this company has developed breakthroughs associated with immunity and glutathione, similarly Keller’s name seems to be associated with a lot of sites selling this supplement and making all kinds of wild claims for it.
I am always very, very wary of anyone claiming a breakthrough. There are no panaceas. Nothing is 100% effective with zero side effects. Nothing. Not herbal remedies, hand-waving cr*p like reiki “therapy” or pharmaceuticals. Why are people so keen to believe in the mystical nonsense touted by snake oil salesmen?
I think that your uninformed and don’t have the updated research. If your trying to promote pharmaceutical companies because you work for one. them this article is doing its job. But to properly inform people educate yourself and take a look at Dr Robert H. Keller research and clinical studies. Or Dr Herbert Nagasawa, work and research on glutathione.
Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Lesly Perez