Glutathione is a major antioxidant highly active in human lungs and many other organ systems and tissues. It has many reported uses. It has a critical role in protecting cells from oxidative stress and maintaining the immune system. Higher blood levels of glutathione have been associated with better health in elderly people, but the exact association between glutathione and the aging process has not been determined.
Among the uses that have been reported for glutathione are:
-treatment of poisoning, particularly heavy metal poisons
-treatment of idiopathic pulmonary firbosis
-increasing the effectiveness and reducing the toxicity of cis-platinum, a chemo drug used to treat breast cancer
-treating Parkinson's disease
-lowering blood pressure in patients with diabetes
-increasing male sperm counts in humans and animals
-treatment of liver cancer
-treatment of sickle cell anemia