«Актуальные вопросы в сфере социально-экономических, технических и естественных наук и информационных технологий» (3-4 апреля 2014г.)

Valeskaln A. O., Dyomshina O.O., Osadcha O. V.

Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University

GLUTATHIONE AND ITS FUNCTIONS

Glutathione is the body’s essential health protector and anti-aging resource. Glutathione is the master antioxidant, immune booster and detoxifier. This small protein, produced naturally in the body, maintains these three crucial protective functions, in fact your life depends on glutathione. Without it, your cells would disintegrate from unrestrained oxidation, your body would have little resistance to bacteria, viruses and cancer and your liver would shrivel up from the eventual accumulation of toxins.

It is believed that glutathione has an important role to play in the treatment and prevention of hundreds of diseases. It may in the future be considered as important to health as a well-rounded diet, exercise and good lifestyle. Clinical tests show that raised glutathione levels may address some of the major health issues of our time – heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, cigarette smoking, hepatitis, AID’s and more. Glutathione provides the body with tools to fights off these threats naturally.

Healthy people also benefit from elevated glutathione levels through an enhanced ability to fight off toxins, infectious diseases, pre-cancerous cells and the aging process itself. Diminished glutathione levels are a symptom of aging and are particularly evident in such ailments as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Glutathione is also important to physically active people. Many world-class athletes are discovering that well-maintained glutathione levels give them an edge over their competitors, bringing greater strength and endurance, decreased recovery time from injury, less muscle pain and fatigue and muscle-promoting activity.

Glutathione serves as an antioxidant – our bodies depend on glutathione for the removal of toxins and it is at the heart of all immune functions. Other antioxidants in our body depend on glutathione to function properly. Glutathione detoxifies a large number of pollutants by binding to carcinogens, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides and radiation by forming a soluble compound with the toxin that can then be excreted through the urine or bile. It also serves as a kind of «fuel» for the immune system because healthy growth and activity of immune cells depends on the availability of glutathione. The protective activity of glutathione is two-fold – it enhances the activity of immune cells and also functions as an antioxidant within them.