Oral Absorption of Glutathione Confirmed In Study Presented at American College of Nutrition Annual Meeting

October 6, 2010

New York, NY – Brian J. Day, Ph.D., Vice Chair of Research and the Department of Medicine Professor at National Jewish Health will be presenting on Saturday, October 9 at the 51st annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition on his paper “Elevation of Glutathione Levels in the Lung by Oral Glutathione Administration in Mice.” The study, which used Setria® Glutathione from Kyowa Hakko USA, examined whether oral glutathione (GSH) or glutathione disulfide (GSSG) treatment could increase lung epithelial lining fluid (ELF) GSH levels and whether the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) plays a role in this process.

“Many lung diseases are associated with low glutathione levels, including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome,” noted Dr. Day. “This study confirms that an oral dose of glutathione can increase blood, tissue and extracellular glutathione levels and that the absorption of glutathione was dependent on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.”

Study Abstract
The pharmacokinetic profile of an oral bolus dose of GSH (300 mg/kg) was determined in mice. Plasma, ELF, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and lung tissue were analyzed for GSH content. There was a rapid elevation in the GSH levels that peaked at 30 minutes in the plasma and 60 minutes in the lung, ELF and BAL cells after oral GSH dosing. Oral GSH treatment produced a selective increase in the reduced and active form of GSH in all lung compartments examined. Oral GSSG treatment (300mg/kg) resulted in a smaller increase of GSH levels. To evaluate the role of CFTR in this process, Cftr KO mice and gut corrected Cftr KO-Tg mice were given an oral bolus dose of GSH (300 mg/kg) and compared to wild type mice for changes in GSH levels in plasma, lung, ELF and BAL cells. There was a 2-fold increase in plasma, a 2-fold increase in lung, a 5-fold increase in ELF, and a 3-fold increase in BAL cell GSH levels at 60 minutes in wild type mice, however GSH levels only increased by 40% in the plasma, 60% in the lung, 50% in the ELF, and 2-fold in the BAL cells within the gut corrected Cftr KO-Tg mice. No change in GSH levels was observed in the uncorrected Cftr KO mice. These studies suggest that CFTR plays an important role in GSH uptake from the diet and transport processes in the lung.

About Kyowa Hakko USA
Kyowa Hakko is an international health ingredients manufacturer and world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food products. Kyowa is the maker of branded ingredients including Cognizin® Citicoline, Hydrafend™ Hyaluronic Acid, Lumistor® L-Hydroxyproline, Setria® Glutathione, Pantein® Pantothenic Acid, Kyowa CoQ10™ as well as Sustamine™ L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine.

Setria Glutathione is a tripeptide of three amino acids and found in every cell in the body. Known as the “master antioxidant,” glutathione fights free radical damage, helps to support the liver so it can detoxify the body, as well as promotes a healthy immune system. For more information on Setria, visit www.setriaglutathione.com.

About Brian Day, Ph.D.
Vice Chair and Professor,
Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health
Denver, CO

In addition to his position with National Jewish Health, Dr. Day has adjutant appointments with the University of Colorado, Denver in the Medicine Pulmonary Division and Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Immunology. His research interests include basic immunology and lung diseases such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and inflammation, with a special focus on novel antioxidant therapies including glutathione. He has a number of NIH-funded research projects on chronic lung diseases and therapies and has authored close to 100 research articles in professional journals. In addition, he is an ad hoc reviewer for more than three dozen professional journals as well as a number of NIH study sections.

About American College of Nutrition
The Mission of the American College of Nutrition (ACN) is to enhance nutrition and metabolism knowledge among physicians and professionals from all disciplines with a common interest in nutrition, and to promote the application of such knowledge to the maintenance of health and treatment of disease. The ACN’s 51st Annual Meeting will be held October 7-9, 2010 at the New York Academy of Medicine, New York City. For more information visit www.americancollegeofnutrition.org.