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ABOUT BILL RAWLS, M.D.
Dr. Rawls is a licensed medical doctor in North Carolina and a leading expert in integrative health. He has extensive training in alternative therapies, and is the Medical Director of Vital Plan, a holistic health and herbal supplement company in Raleigh, NC.
Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of three amino acids, glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It is an essential antioxidant inside cells for protecting mitochondria from free-radical damage during generation of energy.
Glutathione is also essential for phase II detoxification in the liver. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated enhancement of detoxification processes, antioxidant properties, and fortification of immune functions.
Glutathione increases T-lymphocytes in animal studies. Intestinal absorption occurs by the molecule being broken down into component parts, but also by absorption of the whole molecule.
1. Hunjan MK, Evered DF. Absorption of glutathione from the gastro-intestinal tract. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1985;815(2):184-188.
2. Hagen TM, Bai C, Jones DP. Stimulation of glutathione absorption in rat small intestine by alpha-adrenergic agonists. FASEB J. 1991;5(12):2721-2727.
3. Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. Eur J Nutr. 2015;54(2):251-263.
4. McKinley-Barnard S, Andre T, Morita M, Willoughby DS. Combined L-citrulline and glutathione supplementation increases the concentration of markers indicative of nitric oxide synthesis. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:27.
