Glutathione is an indispensable component of the body's own redox and detoxification systems for breaking down radicals and other chemical pollutants. This textbook shows the current state of science and the study situation as well as the possibilities for the use of glutathione and its precursors in medical everyday life. On the one hand, it serves as a source for the understanding of the diverse effects of this substance and as an argumentation aid against unobjective criticism and, on the other, as an indispensable tool for the successful use of glutathione in clinical practice.

1. Basic idea of orthomolecular nutrition 101.1. Importance of nutrition and micronutrients 101.2. What is orthomolecular medicine? 102. Glutathione basics 122.1. Biochemistry of glutathione 122.1.1. Composition and formation of glutathione 122.1.2. Glutathione metabolism (synthesis, regeneration and degradation) 132.1.3. Supply, stock and distribution of glutathione 162.1.4. Absorption and availability of glutathione 172.2. Physiology and biological functions of glutathione 232.2.1. Antioxidative effect of glutathione 232.2.1.1. Basics on oxidation and reduction 232.2.1.2. Role of glutathione 242.2.1.3. Antioxidant network around glutathione, redox potential and electrochemical potential of the cell 252.2.1.4. Glutathione and ferroptosis 292.2.2. Detoxication 302.2.3. Immune system and inflammation 312.2.4. Storage of cysteine 322.2.5. Maintaining the thiol status 322.2.6. Energy balance 332.2.7. Modulation of cellular processes 342.2.8. Extended effects of glutathione 342.2.9. Role of glutathione in the flora 342.2.10. Networking of functional circuits 353. Targeted application of glutathione in functional nutritional medicine 403.1. General medical benefit of glutathione 403.2. Indications in healthy persons and in persons with risc factors 413.2.1. Prevention of health problems and chronic diseases 413.2.2. Avoidance of damage by pollutants and everyday drugs 433.2.3. Aging 433.2.4. Sports 443.2.5. Men's medical care 453.2.6. Iatrogenic measures 453.3. Indications in case of disease 473.3.1. Immune system 473.3.2. Cardiovascular diseases 483.3.3. Cancer 503.3.3.1. Topic tumor prevention 523.3.3.2. Topic supporting cancer therapy 523.3.3.3. Comments on glutathione supplementation in cancer therapy 533.3.4. Neurological and neurodegenerative diseases 543.3.5. Mental stress and multifunctional diseases 573.3.6. Metabolic disorders 593.3.6.1. Diabetes mellitus 593.3.6.2. Obesity 613.3.7. Diseases of liver and pancreas 623.3.8. Eyes 633.3.9. Diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract 643.3.10. Traumatology and surgery 653.3.11. Dental diseases 653.3.12. Other diseases 664. Practical concepts for glutathione application in everyday life 784.1. Glutathione diagnostics 784.2. Promotion of glutathione status 794.3. Oral administration of glutathione 804.3.1. Oral administration of glutathione from foods 814.3.2. Oral administration of glutathione from preparations 814.3.3. Calculations of the efficiency of promoting glutathione by direct administration ofglutathione or by promoting cysteine or acetylcysteine supplementation 834.4. Parenteral administration of glutathione 844.5. Side effects of glutathione 855. Legal principles 885.1. Conceptual delimitation food drug 885.2. General food law assessment 885.3. The novel food question 885.4. Special dietary evaluation 886. Conclusion 917. Further references 928. Abbreviations 93Index 95