Ok, I made this thread as a means to compare the pros and cons of various methods used to increased Glutathione. Now I realize that increasing methylation overall should benefit GSH production overall, but I wanted to focus on Glutathione not methylation. Also, I am concerned about potential long term side effects of any supplementation so information on that should be included, not just the short term pros/cons. Please help me with this list if you have any more information. I know that the issue of methylation is quite intricate and individualized based on our SNPs, so I am trying to find a way to increase Glutathione without effecting the methylation cycle much.
My interest in this resides in the fact that there are ongoing clinical trials of NAC as a means of reducing OCD (here:http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/nct01172275), which I have. The general theory behind NAC to help OCD is that it modulates glutamate and NMDA receptors in a beneficial way. I guess the glutamate involvement is a relatively newer developement in the OCD world, compared to serotonin deficits.
Possible Glutathione increasing agents and things I have read about them:
Cystine-
-Saftey Issues: potential for causing cystine kidney stones?
-The oxidized form of cysteine, which I guess is a common form in your brain anyways as cysteine from the liver gets auto-oxidized in the pro-oxidant environment of the brain
Glutathione-
-Pro: This is exactly what you are looking to increase. Supplementing with this means you don't have to deal with issues involved with precursors.
- Ineffectively absorbed by the body. This is a rather large molecule and is broken down in the gut, so you don't get the amount that you supplement. (However could this just be overcome by supplementing with a lot of Glutathione, ignoring the expense that would incur).
N-acetylcysteine
-very effective means of increasing liver Glutathione as well as brain GSH, proven by the fact that it is the go to antidote for acetomenophan overdose.
- Has been proven to cause pulmonary hypertenson at very high doses in rats (I understand that this might not actually be an issue, but the way I see it, if I can supplement with any of the other precursors and not have to worry about this, then that would be the way to go)
-I have read from many individual testimonials that people have reduced OCD symptoms as a result of this supplement
L-Cysteine
- Don't know much about supplementing with straight L-Cysteine. I have read on one site that they believe that L-Cysteine is more "proven" to be safe over NAC.
If anyone else has any experience with these and or additional suggestions to the pros and cons of these and their ability to help increase glutathione please let me know what they are. Or if there are more options to add to this list, please do so. I have read Rich's recommendations about Glutathione, but I am looking for your individual input.
My interest in this resides in the fact that there are ongoing clinical trials of NAC as a means of reducing OCD (here:http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/nct01172275), which I have. The general theory behind NAC to help OCD is that it modulates glutamate and NMDA receptors in a beneficial way. I guess the glutamate involvement is a relatively newer developement in the OCD world, compared to serotonin deficits.
Possible Glutathione increasing agents and things I have read about them:
Cystine-
-Saftey Issues: potential for causing cystine kidney stones?
-The oxidized form of cysteine, which I guess is a common form in your brain anyways as cysteine from the liver gets auto-oxidized in the pro-oxidant environment of the brain
Glutathione-
-Pro: This is exactly what you are looking to increase. Supplementing with this means you don't have to deal with issues involved with precursors.
- Ineffectively absorbed by the body. This is a rather large molecule and is broken down in the gut, so you don't get the amount that you supplement. (However could this just be overcome by supplementing with a lot of Glutathione, ignoring the expense that would incur).
N-acetylcysteine
-very effective means of increasing liver Glutathione as well as brain GSH, proven by the fact that it is the go to antidote for acetomenophan overdose.
- Has been proven to cause pulmonary hypertenson at very high doses in rats (I understand that this might not actually be an issue, but the way I see it, if I can supplement with any of the other precursors and not have to worry about this, then that would be the way to go)
-I have read from many individual testimonials that people have reduced OCD symptoms as a result of this supplement
L-Cysteine
- Don't know much about supplementing with straight L-Cysteine. I have read on one site that they believe that L-Cysteine is more "proven" to be safe over NAC.
If anyone else has any experience with these and or additional suggestions to the pros and cons of these and their ability to help increase glutathione please let me know what they are. Or if there are more options to add to this list, please do so. I have read Rich's recommendations about Glutathione, but I am looking for your individual input.