Glutathione Deficiency

[drdebc]

I paid $250 for this Spectracell Lab test. Apparently medicare covers it. MD felt I could not wait a year for Medicare eligibility.

Test showed:
Deficiency:
Glutathione
Borderline Deficiencies:
Manganese
Calcium
Copper

My MD recommended I take a NAC tablet each day for 6 months. MD admitted to knowing little about this deficiency.
I do not like what I read about taking NAC.
I am considering adding undenated whey protein, SAM e, Milk Thistle. I already take Melatonin.

I also take 1 Budesonide every 5 days. I have had the symptoms of MC for 35 years. It was diagnosed, in 2007.

If you have a Gluthathione Deficiency, I would greatly appreciate it if you let me know what you are taking.

Thanks,
Deb

[Gabes-Apg]

what part of the articles about taking NAC do you not like?

I have been taking NAC for a while.

[drdebc]

Hey Gabes!

Thanks for your reply!

I read these articles:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... ouble.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-suppl ... -and-risks

And I read these articles:

http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/19/glut ... ioxidants/

http://www.immunehealthscience.com/glut ... nocal.html

http://www.immunehealthscience.com/how- ... hione.html

Meant to also add that I take B-12 shots every 2 weeks, D3 5000 per day, and zinc. It was great to see that levels of these were fine.

Do you too have a diagnosed Glutathione Deficiency or are you taking it for maintenance?

Thanks Again,
Deb

[Gabes-Apg]

I am taking the NAC to help the liver etc with my chelation protocol.
(due to Pyrrole i have high levels unbound copper)

the internet is filled with pro and con articles for most things, and based on the shared experiences here, what works for one person can cause chaos of another so the approach of 'listen to your body' applies.

[drdebc]

So, is your copper level too high?

I agree with what you wrote about the pros and cons of meds.

[Gabes-Apg]

applies to everything - meds, supplements, even foods! everyone is different
(as we have learnt here on this forum)

yes, bound and unbound copper is too high. the unbound copper causes multiple health issues.

there is a recent thread by Lilja about L-methioine. I have also been taking L-methionine and had good benefits, Lilja started taking it and it caused bladder issues etc.

[drdebc]

Lordy Lordy re: L-methioine,

I constantly have urinary track infections. My Gastro MD and Primary MD consult before prescribing an antibiotic.

Unlike you, my copper is borderline deficient.

Re: the antibiotic they are about to prescribe, I am going to ask them to consider Xifaxam or macrobid.

Thanks,
Deb

[Gabes-Apg]

this article reiterates the - what works for one, may not work for another
and why listen to your body is best approach

http://www.gutmicrobiotawatch.org/en/20 ... ave-on-us/

Researchers focused on post-meal responses and on how blood sugar levels changed in the two hours following a meal. The data they gathered revealed that individuals have vastly different responses to the same food. For instance, some people’s glycaemic responses spiked after eating a tomato, whereas other individuals did not experience the same effect. “Our first surprise was to discover on a very large scale the enormous variability we saw in people’s responses to even identical meals. There are profound differences between individuals. In some cases, individuals even have opposite responses and this is a big hole in the literature,” Segal pointed out.

[drdebc]

Hey Gabes,

I have really researched Glutathione and my identified deficiency of it since my last post to you. When I read the symptoms, I had an aha moment. It appears I have been deficient in this antioxident all of my life! I am following the recommendations in this article: http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/19/glut ... ioxidants/ I am adding a pure version of NCA, as well as alpha lipoic acid, and bioactive non-denated goat whey protein (no additives)-a smoothie a day w/almond milk. I am able to eat goat cheese and since finding something I can eat for breakfast is a real challenge, perhaps this will work. I will add these one at a time for a few days and keep my fingers crossed.

I was also fascinated to read the forum discussion on Colestipol and your insight. My GMD prescribed it. It did not appear to help so I quit taking it. My LDL is high so I am also giving it another chance. Perhaps I can kill 2 birds with the same stone!

So here's to successfully tapering down during my second healing attempt with Budesonide. I am down to one every 6 days, and so far so good.

In Summary, thanks so much for your many contributions to this forum. Your advice a year or so ago re: magnesium oil really helped my leg and hand cramps. Please consider writing articles for the MC Foundation newsletter. You have much to contribute.

Thanks Again,
Deb

[Lilja]

Lordy Lordy re: L-methioine,

I constantly have urinary track infections. My Gastro MD and Primary MD consult before prescribing an antibiotic.

Unlike you, my copper is borderline deficient.

Re: the antibiotic they are about to prescribe, I am going to ask them to consider Xifaxam or macrobid.

Thanks,
Deb

Hi Deb,

As Gabes mentioned, taking L-methionine gave me a urine tract irritation (or infection, I didn't take a test), which happened 1-2 days after I took my first L-methionine.

Thinking back, I must have had a urine tract issue for a long time, but all the other health issues that come along with MC "overshadowed" something I would have noticed long time ago, had my life beeen "normal".

And maybe the bladder problem came more alive with the L-Methionine, because 4-5 days after having taken D-Mannose and Urisan Probiforte, I had great improvement. Now, after 2,5 weeks on these supplements, I don't even have to go to the toilet during the night!! I usually had 2-3 trips. (And the odor is not awful any longer, no "spots" in my knickers... etc).

D-Mannose has a type of sugar that is rapidly excreted in the urine. In the bladder, D-Mannose can adhere to undesirable foreign subtances, preventing them from sticking to the lining of the bladder. Because insubstantial amounts of D-Mannose are used by the body, it does not interfere with blood sugar regulation.

So, my advice is that one should take urine tract issues equally seriously as we treat our MC. I think they are related.

Lilia

[Gigi]

Deb,

I have been using a doctor prescribed compounded glutathione cream applied transdermally 2 days per week. Each application contains 600 mg glutathione. I believe it has helped me tremendously.

Gigi

[drdebc]

Gabes-Apg, Lilja, and Gigi,

I cannot thank you enough for your support!

As an update to my post re: the Glutathione deficiency:

I was also diagnosed with a second consecutive urinary tract infection. My general MD and GMD hesitantly prescribed a 10 day treatment of Cephalexin 500 MG X2 per day. Within a few hours of the first dosage, the lower back pains, and leg and hand cramps disappeared! They now suspect I have had this infection for years. And come to think about it, I have had these aches and cramps for about 6 years.

MD also convinced me to address my osteoporosis-I am now taking Bone Builder, Mag Glycinate and Ostera (Metagenics) as well as Vitamin Code 50 & Wiser Women.
I am now also addressing high LDL cholesterol with a brand of Fish Oil without soy-Super EPA Fish Oil Concentrate-Allergy Research Center. MD has also increased my B12 shots to one every 2 weeks VS one per month.

I highly recommend the Spectacell Laboratories, Inc. blood test. It is covered under Medicare. It identifies Micro-nutrient deficiencies. The biggie deficiency I had that started this thread was Glutathione. I am currently taking 1800 mg of NAC by pure encapsulations. I have a Goat Whey Protein smoothie (by Naked Goat) with almond or cashew milk for breakfast. I also take one Alpha Lipoic Acid per day. (all 3 are to boost Glutathione levels) The copper level was also fairly low so I purchased a copper bracelet.

I added each new supplement one at a time for 2 days. So far so good! Two weeks of feeling great. And the best news is that I still only need to take one Budesonide every 6 days. I feared that I would have a set back but I did not.

Your input is greatly appreciated. Please consider writing an article or a mini-article for the MC Newsletter. You have much to contribute!

Deb

[Gabes-Apg]

Dr Deb
came across this post on MTHFR support today, thought you might be interested

I wanted to mention something that I see often. Many women over 50 have issues with HCl and macronutrient protein breakdown. When I review their amino acid levels, both what is in the "library" (blood), and what in the urine (what's being peed out), I see a pattern of low amino acid assimilation and high wasting (in urine) of the amino acids needed for making glutathione (glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine in cases where glycine is low) and bile (taurine). Most of us women in perimenopause/menopause notice that we lose muscle mass, but we are not aware that our glutathione production is being negatively impacted. Glutathione our major antioxidant, so if any autoimmune issues, such as Hashi's, then symptoms such as hair loss and inflammation accelerate. You can see how many GS* and GS** glutathione SNPs are in the Variant Report. So, if you see this pattern on a Genova Diagnostic NutrEval or other test profile, please consider some upper GI support in the form of HCL and/or digestive enzymes. Also, some of the smoothie protein powders such as Pure Paleo protein powder by Metabolic Maintenance (I have no financial connection to the Co.) can jump start amino acid assimilation. PPIs can also affect protein/amino acid assimilation as they cause parietal cells to "stand down" in their HCl production (exact opposite of what is needed to prevent heartburn).

[drdebc]

Gabes,
This is fascinating research! I don't understand a lot of what you posted. I will research this topic, attempt to locate that support source and hopefully I will gain a better understanding of what you posted.
Thanks again,
Deb

[Lilja]

Dr Deb
came across this post on MTHFR support today, thought you might be interested

I wanted to mention something that I see often. Many women over 50 have issues with HCl and macronutrient protein breakdown. When I review their amino acid levels, both what is in the "library" (blood), and what in the urine (what's being peed out), I see a pattern of low amino acid assimilation and high wasting (in urine) of the amino acids needed for making glutathione (glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine in cases where glycine is low) and bile (taurine). Most of us women in perimenopause/menopause notice that we lose muscle mass, but we are not aware that our glutathione production is being negatively impacted. Glutathione our major antioxidant, so if any autoimmune issues, such as Hashi's, then symptoms such as hair loss and inflammation accelerate. You can see how many GS* and GS** glutathione SNPs are in the Variant Report. So, if you see this pattern on a Genova Diagnostic NutrEval or other test profile, please consider some upper GI support in the form of HCL and/or digestive enzymes. Also, some of the smoothie protein powders such as Pure Paleo protein powder by Metabolic Maintenance (I have no financial connection to the Co.) can jump start amino acid assimilation. PPIs can also affect protein/amino acid assimilation as they cause parietal cells to "stand down" in their HCl production (exact opposite of what is needed to prevent heartburn).

Gabes,
I wish I understood some of this, but I don't. It is very advanced. Can you elaborate? I have never understood anything about glutathione.

Lilia