The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, 1255 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, ON M2K 1E2, Canada and International Primary Health Care, The External Program, University of London, London, UK.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Mar;5(1):27-35. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem040.
Reduced glutathione or simply glutathione (gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycine; GSH) is found in the cytosol of most cells of the body. GSH in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the lower respiratory tract is thought to be the first line of defense against oxidative stress. Inhalation (nebulized or aerosolized) is the only known method that increases GSH's levels in the ELF. A review of the literature was conducted to examine the clinical effectiveness of inhaled GSH as a treatment for various pulmonary diseases and respiratory-related conditions. This report also discusses clinical and theoretical indications for GSH inhalation, potential concerns with this treatment, its presumed mechanisms of action, optimal doses to be administered and other important details. Reasons for inhaled GSH's effectiveness include its role as a potent antioxidant, and possibly improved oxygenation and host defenses. Theoretical uses of this treatment include Farmer's lung, pre- and postexercise, multiple chemical sensitivity disorder and cigarette smoking. GSH inhalation should not be used as a treatment for primary lung cancer. Testing for sulfites in the urine is recommended prior to GSH inhalation. Minor side effects such as transient coughing and an unpleasant odor are common with this treatment. Major side effects such as bronchoconstriction have only occurred among asthma patients presumed to be sulfite-sensitive. The potential applications of inhaled GSH are numerous when one considers just how many pulmonary diseases and respiratory-related conditions are affected by deficient antioxidant status or an over production of oxidants, poor oxygenation and/or impaired host defenses. More studies are clearly warranted.
还原型谷胱甘肽（γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸甘氨酸；GSH）存在于体内大多数细胞的胞质溶胶中。下呼吸道上皮衬液（ELF）中的 GSH 被认为是抵抗氧化应激的第一道防线。吸入（雾化或气溶胶化）是唯一已知的增加 ELF 中 GSH 水平的方法。对文献进行了综述，以检查吸入 GSH 作为治疗各种肺部疾病和与呼吸相关的疾病的临床效果。本报告还讨论了 GSH 吸入的临床和理论适应症、这种治疗的潜在问题、其推测的作用机制、要给予的最佳剂量和其他重要细节。吸入 GSH 有效的原因包括其作为一种有效的抗氧化剂的作用，以及可能改善氧合和宿主防御。这种治疗的理论用途包括农民肺、运动前和运动后、多种化学敏感性障碍和吸烟。GSH 吸入不应作为原发性肺癌的治疗方法。建议在 GSH 吸入前检测尿液中的亚硫酸盐。这种治疗常见的轻微副作用包括短暂咳嗽和难闻的气味。只有被认为是亚硫酸盐敏感的哮喘患者才会出现支气管收缩等严重副作用。当考虑到有多少肺部疾病和与呼吸相关的疾病受到抗氧化剂状态不足或氧化剂过度产生、氧合不良和/或宿主防御受损的影响时，吸入 GSH 的潜在应用是很多的。显然需要更多的研究。
