** Disclaimer - In this paper, any methods/supplementation described were found successful in scientific experiments. The methods / supplements are NOT proposed as medical cures,and readers are advised to consult a healthcare professional before trying anything. There are well over 38,887 published scientific research papers on the roles played by the molecule called glutathione in cells of the human body (verifiable through the Medline site on the Internet: www.healthy.net/library/search/medline.htm).

Research indicates that glutathione is one of the most important molecules required in the body:. As a principal antioxidant deactivating free radicals and assisting other antioxidants - vitamins A, C and E; As one of the most important molecules in the detoxification system; and by the immune system for optimal functioning. Antioxidant: Glutathione is incorporated into the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This is one of the three known enzymes in the cell that deactivates free radicals - unstable molecules that create vast damage within the cell to structures, enzymes, DNA, RNA, hormones, cell membrane, etc. Damage occurring on this scale over time, can lead to cellular malfunction and ultimately illness. In addition, antioxidants work better in teams.

Each antioxidant works best in different locations within the body depending on whether it is water- or fat-soluble. Fat-soluble molecules enter the cell more easily than do water-soluble ones, therefore, water-soluble substances will be found predominantly outside the cell. Thus, it is essential to have the enzyme systems for antioxidant protection in the intracellular fluid (cytoplasm) within the cell; vitamin C and the proanthocyanidins (grape seed and pine bark extracts), because they are water-soluble, work well in the extracellular fluids- blood plasma and fluid surrounding tissue cells. Vitamins A and E, which are fat-soluble, function as antioxidants primarily inside lipoproteins, the cellular membrane and membranes of cell structures. Beta-carotene concentrates in the fluid part of the eye, and will split up to produce two molecules of vitamin A if required by the body.

Bottom line: glutathione supports the most important intracellular antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and works in conjunction with other antioxidants. Detoxification: Glutathione is a very important molecule in the detoxification process, the bulk of which occurs in cells of the liver. This organ is the body's primary center of detoxification and cleansing.

These processes consist of two phases: phase 1 - deactivates the toxic molecule and phase 2 - attaches the detoxified molecule to a carrier molecule to get it out of the body. Most toxic substances tend to be fat-soluble and must be attached to carrier molecules in order to transport them in the blood to the kidneys for excretion from the body.

Glutathione is a major carrier molecule in phase 2. Once out of the body, glutathione is gone and must be replenished through the ingestion of glutathione precursors. Immune Function: Glutathione is essential for the proper function of lymphocytes, because they use free radicals to fight invading pathogenic microbes and require antioxidants present to reduce damage to their own cellular structures. To function effectively, lymphocytes require the presence of glutathione inside the cell.

All in all, glutathione is a must in order to ensure a clean running body. It reduces free radical damage, aids in detoxification and improves immune function. Thus, it is a key molecule in the promotion of normal cellular function and thus better health. This molecule cannot be taken as a supplement, because it is a protein, which is broken-down in the digestive tract. Therefore, its three building blocks - the amino acids: cysteine, glutamine and glycine, must be delivered to the cell for the construction of the glutathione molecule INSIDE the cell. Glutamine and glycine can easily be obtained through dietary sources, however, cysteine - the most important of the three due to its chemical conformation, is not so plentiful. In addition, cysteine cannot be taken in supplement form because it can reach toxic levels in the body.

From my perspective, Immunocal® is the answer to delivering the precursors for glutathione to cells. It contains three substances in the whey: serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin, that contain a large quantity of cystine, which once it enters the cell releases cysteine. This amino acid, cysteine is the rate-limiting factor or biochemical bottleneck in the production of intracellular glutathione, and Immunocal® provides it in a large quantity. With the increased oxidative stress placed on our bodies by the polluted conditions in our environment (such as - pesticides, cleaning substances,drugs, carcinogens, food additives, airborne pollutants, increased UV rays and many other toxic substances) and the hectic/stressful pace of life today, our bodies need a complete system of antioxidant and detoxification protection.

Immunotec Research has designed a complete system: the Immunocal® whey-protein isolate (providing glutathione precursors for intracellular protection) and the vitamin/mineral supplements (providing critical vitamins/minerals for both intracellular and extracellular antioxidant protection).

In my opinion, the Immunocal® system is a winning nutritional achievement backed by scientifically sound independent-peer duplicable experimental data.

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