{"id":226,"date":"2024-11-29T15:21:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T15:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/?p=226"},"modified":"2024-11-29T15:22:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T15:22:48","slug":"glutathione-and-autism-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/?p=226","title":{"rendered":"Glutathione and Autism Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Glutathione and Autism Treatment<\/p>\n

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Glutathione is important in the biomedical treatment of autism for four main reasons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Firstl<\/strong>y,\u00a0glutathione acts as the body\u2019s master antioxidant.\u00a0 Secondly, it plays a central role in detoxification of harmful substances.\u00a0 The third reason emerges from the latest research on glutathione regulating immunity and autoimmunity.\u00a0 Lastly, this key antioxidant also manages the brain chemical glutamate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What is glutathione?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Glutathione (GSH) is the body\u2019s master antioxidant made from amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid and glycine.\u00a0 Amino acids are protein building blocks and\u00a0\u00a0antioxidants<\/a>\u00a0protect cells from damage and\/or death caused by free radicals.\u00a0 Free radicals are created when the body encounters a toxin like lead, and tries to neutralize it to prevent damage to cell structures, like the cell membrane.\u00a0 Glutathione is a major intracellular antioxidant and as a result plays a critical role in regulating the oxidative status inside the cell.<\/p>\n

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Glutathione\u2019s role as an antioxidant:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Research has identified that in autism, glutathione status is significant. For instance, in some cases up to 80% of this important antioxidant has been depleted resulting in higher levels of what is called \u201coxidative stress\u201d.\u00a0 Without sufficient glutathione free radicals can not be neutralized inside the cell and as a result cell membranes are damaged and inflammation leads to mitochondrial impairment. To clarify, glutathione plays a major role as an intracellular antioxidant, which dictates the \u201credox\u201d status of the cell.\u00a0 The \u201creduction\u201d or neutralization of free radicals is essential to cell functioning.\u00a0 Oxidative stress is the result of free radicals that outnumber antioxidants. Thus the term \u201credox\u201d status reflects the reduction, oxidative stress balance in the cell.\u00a0 When free radicals surpass glutathione\u2019s ability to reduce, the redox status is altered leading to oxidative stress which then leads to inflammation and a cascade called the\u00a0cell danger response<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Furthermore, recent research has identified the role of greater oxidative stress in children diagnosed with autism and that using antioxidants can help improve symptoms of autism.\u00a0 Using glutathione in addition to the building blocks that make glutathione, in the treatment of autism symptoms helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation leading to improved sensory integration and reduction in\u00a0self-injurious, repetitive and aggressive behaviours<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Glutathione helps maintain the status of other antioxidants:<\/em><\/p>\n

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Lastly, glutathione\u2019s role as a reduction agent helps maintain other key vitamins that also act as antioxidants such as vitamins C and vitamin E.\u00a0 While both vitamins are very important for cell health,\u00a0vitamin E<\/a>\u00a0has been shown to reduce the damage to the cell membrane and is used in biomedical treatment to support\u00a0motor planning<\/a>\u00a0which is needed for optimal language, social, cognitive and motor skills.<\/p>\n

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Glutathione\u2019s role in detoxification:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Glutathione plays a key role in detoxification reactions helping with phase II removal of toxins by the liver via that conjugation pathway.\u00a0Furthermore phase II detoxification removes heavy metals, microbes and chemicals making glutathione an important player in the cell self-defense system.<\/p>\n

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GSH and heavy metals:<\/em><\/p>\n

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So, let\u2019s look at the role heavy metals like lead and mercury play in contributing to autism risk and autism symptoms.\u00a0 Lead and mercury require two molecules of glutathione to be detoxified.\u00a0 Consequently, exposure to lead and mercury can very quickly deplete glutathione and exposure increases risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.\u00a0 Other heavy metals like aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, gadolinium barium, antimony etc. are also detoxified with the help of glutathione.\u00a0 In addition, research is now showing that incredibly small amounts of these metals can cause damage to cells.\u00a0 As a result there likely are no safe levels of these metals.<\/p>\n

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GSH and microbes:<\/em><\/p>\n

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Bacteria,\u00a0yeasts<\/a>\u00a0and viruses have to be removed from the body after they are killed or immobilized by the immune system.\u00a0 Detoxification of microbial metabolites is highly dependent on glutathione status.\u00a0 Research has identified that children diagnosed with autism have altered gut flora. The gut flora create an ecosystem, termed the\u00a0microbiome<\/a>, that consists of bacteria, yeasts and viruses.\u00a0 Alternations in the\u00a0microbiome<\/a>\u00a0consequently play a significant role in the pathophysiology of autism.\u00a0 Children diagnosed with autism have a different balance of microflora, and as a result changes in the way the brain and immune system are functioning.<\/p>\n

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GSH and chemicals:<\/em><\/p>\n

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Lastly, glutathione helps to remove harmful chemicals like pesticides, PCBs, bisphenols, fire retardants and phthalates.\u00a0 There are over 100, 000 chemicals polluting our air, water and land.\u00a0 Many of these toxins increase risk of autism, birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders.\u00a0 Moreover, mothers exposed to higher levels of air pollution have higher rates of children with autism.\u00a0 Phthalates in plastics are also culpable.\u00a0 The most concerning part is that lack of research on how these chemicals impact human health.\u00a0\u00a0Harvard Public health researchers have linked a number of toxins to developmental delays and have recommended a global prevention strategy.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Glutathione\u2019s role in governing immunity and autoimmunity:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Research is focusing more and more on diseases that show signs of inflammation and altered immune function and how this contributes to chronic health concerns. For instance, chronic inflammation in autism depletes antioxidants, like glutathione, leading to chronic elevations in oxidative stress.\u00a0 Chronic disorders, such as autism, are often accompanied by a very low antioxidant status.\u00a0 Altered glutathione status contributes to immune dysregulation, including autoimmunity.<\/p>\n

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Autoimmunity is when the body\u2019s immune system becomes confused and begins to attack its own cells instead of focusing on harmful toxins or microbes.\u00a0 Therefore, glutathione plays a dual role in regulating the immune system with the ability to both stimulate immunity or inhibit an immune response to control inflammation.<\/p>\n

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Under physiological conditions where glutathione is low, cells are not regulate immune function.\u00a0 Where this becomes particularly important is the regulation of the immune system in the brain.\u00a0 Our brain is\u00a0 15% neurons and 85% immune cells.\u00a0 That\u2019s right!\u00a0 Our brain is mostly immune system!\u00a0 Optimizing brain function requires optimal production of glutathione.<\/p>\n

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Glutathione\u2019s role in managing glutamate:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Glutamate is the most plentiful neurotransmitter and is therefore critical in supporting the brain.\u00a0 Due to the stimulation, or excitement, caused by glutamate, glutathione helps to strictly manage high levels. Glutamate activates the immune system in the brain.\u00a0 Remember, that the brain consists of 85% immune cells.\u00a0 These cells are called glia and will continue being activated if glutamate is elevated.\u00a0 \u00a0 Glutathione mops up excess glutamate, preventing it from making the brain excitable to the point of causing toxicity.<\/p>\n

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Many autistic symptoms including motor planning impairment and sensory issues are caused by\u00a0immunoexcitotoxicity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cImmuno\u201d because the immune cells are triggered.\u00a0 \u201cExcito\u201d because the brain is too excited with high glutamate.\u00a0 \u201cToxicity\u201d because\u00a0 too much glutamate changes the way the brain is functioning and can even contribute to damage and cell death.<\/p>\n

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Immunoexcitotoxicity<\/a>\u00a0is the term researcher and neurologist, Dr. Russell Blaylock uses to describe the changes in the autistic brain caused by impaired management of glutamate by glutathione.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n

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References:<\/p>\n

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A<\/a>, Minarini. N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: current status and future prospects. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2017 Mar;13(3):279-292. doi: 10.1080\/17425255.2017.1251580.<\/p>\n

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AM<\/a>, Khemakhem. Novel biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction is autism spectrum disorder: potential for biological diagnostic markers. Metab Brain Dis. 2017 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007\/s11011-017-0085-2.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A<\/a>, El-Ansary. Predictive value of selected biomarkers related to metabolism and oxidative stress in children with autism spectrum disorder. Metab Brain Dis. 2017 Aug;32(4):1209-1221. doi: 10.1007\/s11011-017-0029-x.<\/p>\n

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LK<\/a>, Wink. A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of N-acetylcysteine in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Autism. 2016 Apr 21;7:26. doi: \u00a010.1186\/s13229-016-0088-6<\/a><\/p>\n

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M<\/a>, Al-Askar. Postnatal treatment using curcumin supplements to amend the damage in VPA-induced rodent models of autism. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 May 10;17(1):259. doi: 10.1186\/s12906-017-1763-7.<\/p>\n

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MH<\/a>, Rahbar. The role of drinking water sources, consumption of vegetables and seafood in relation to blood arsenic concentrations of Jamaican children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders. Sci Total Environ. 2012 Sep 1;433:362-70. doi: 10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2012.06.085.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Glutathione and Autism Treatment Glutathione is important in the biomedical treatment of autism for four main reasons: Firstly,\u00a0glutathione acts as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=226"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":231,"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226\/revisions\/231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakthruyourhealth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}